Migration In The Mining Industry Of Shakiso, Ethiopia: The Case Of Migrant Street Vendors

In the majority of cities located in the global South, the informal sector remains a significant option for rural-urban migrants due to the incapacity of the formal economy to accommodate the expanding labor force. The present study endeavors to comprehend the rationales for migration, the grounds for engaging in street vending, institutional responses, and the livelihood of migrant street vendors in the southern Ethiopian mining town of Shakiso. Qualitative interviews and observation were utilized to collect data from migrant street vendors. Thirty-six street vendors were chosen for in-depth interviews through purposive sampling. Key informant interviews were conducted with individuals from the police, revenue, and municipal departments of the town. In accordance with an inductive approach, the data that was collected has been analyzed thematically. The outcome demonstrates that the desire to find employment in the mining industry led participants to relocate to Shakiso. Although the town's mining industry, both large-scale formal and artisanal, is believed to provide job opportunities for migrants, they turned to street vending. Insufficient job opportunities, unfavorable living conditions, and a scarcity of agricultural land were the primary impetuses for migration to the town. Street vending not only functions as the primary source of livelihood but also serves as a temporary, transitory option for those seeking mining jobs or those aspiring to migrate to other locations. However, the town perceives vendors through a modernist conception of the city. The authorities should be cognizant of the significance of vending to migrant workers' livelihoods and respond appropriately.