Evolving forms of organizing workers in the informal economy

The ILO estimated that there are over two billion informal workers worldwide, consisting of over 62 percent of all workers. The nature of informal work and the form of organizing of informal workers differ substantially, due to invisibility, significant labour fragmentation, and (often) lack of designated space of work. This chapter introduces the features of informal work; analyses varied examples of organizations of informal workers; and reflects on distinct organizing strategies at work in the informal economy. Based on varied definitions of informality and informal employment, the chapter presents some of the theories of organizing that may be helpful to understand informal workers’ contemporary organizations and their strategies.