South Africa: Economic Crisis Erodes Jobs Growth Sep 26, 2009
Of these jobs, 258 000 of the 362 000 job losses were in the informal sector, not top companies and retrenchments. "In terms of individual characteristics, these are individuals who are African, men, young people between the ages of 15 and 24 and employed in wholesale and retail trade and incomplete primary and secondary education. "Effectively the losers have been the disenfranchised with very little bargaining power. (allAfrica.com)
Nigeria: Banking Sector Criticised for 'Corruption' Sep 25, 2009
Under the Regional Highlights on Africa in the Global Corruption Report 2009, the informal sector amounts to more than 40 per cent of the economy in many countries, reaching well over 50 per cent in Nigeria and Tanzania. The lack of legal protection and the desire to dodge regulations makes the informal sector easy prey for extortion and the solicitation of bribes by corrupt officials. (allAfrica.com)
2009 Global Corruption Report out Sep 24, 2009
The report also revealed that in Africa, the informal sector accounted for more than 40 per cent of the economy in many countries; however, lack of legal protection coupled with the desire to dodge regulation makes the sector easy prey for extortion and the solicitation of bribes by corrupt officials. On the situation in Ghana, it said politicians and public officers collude with the private sector practitioners to enrich themselves. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Zimbabwe: How MDCs Brought Disaster Sep 21, 2009
Those who could not go away joined the ranks of the unemployed or tried to employ themselves in the informal sector. As a result, it became impossible to organise industrial strikes. (allAfrica.com)
After Egypt’s pigs killed, Cairo finds itself wading through piles of garbage Sep 20, 2009
Cairo s garbage collection belonged to the informal sector. The government hired multinational companies to collect the trash, and the companies decided to place bins around the city. (Boston Globe)
Men and Ideas: Let's Protect Workers, Not Jobs Sep 19, 2009
Thus, Indian companies avoid hiring permanent employees, and 90 per cent of India's workers have ended up in the informal sector without any benefits or safety net. This is one of the reasons that the manufacturing sector has not become an engine of mass employment in India as it has in the Far East. (India Times, India)
Angola: Rich and Poor - One Country but Worlds Apart Sep 18, 2009
The Centre of Studies and Scientific Investigation (known by its Portuguese acronym, CEIC) at the Catholic University of Angola records unemployment at around 25 percent, but notes more than half of the population rely on the informal sector to generate income, and in rural areas most remain dependent on subsistence farming. No jobs. (allAfrica.com)
President Mills launches new pension scheme Sep 17, 2009
Accra, Sept. 16, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday launched a new National Pension Scheme that would cater for 85 per cent of workers in the informal sector, and enable workers' contributions to be used as collateral for home mortgaging. Launching the scheme in Accra, President Mills reminded the administrators of the heavy responsibility to ensure its success, and urged them to publicise its activities to in the informal sector ... The third-tier is a voluntary provident fund... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Ghana has one million housing deficit - Veep Sep 17, 2009
Mr Mahama noted that because most Ghanaians worked in the informal sector, their contributions under the new pension scheme would enable many people to acquire their own houses through mortgage. He pledged constant dialogue with GREDA, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) and other stakeholders to devise a scheme for the use of affordable materials, more efficient use of land and more responsiveness to environmental practices. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
HFC Bank opens new branch at Kasoa Sep 16, 2009
He said HFC-Boafo had entered into tri-partite agreement with the SSNIT Informal Sector Fund and HFC Bank Ltd to help expand its businesses, adding that a pilot scheme under the agreement had already commenced in Accra and Koforidua and this would be rolled out in all branches. 15 Sept. 09. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Africa: 'Africa is Paying Most for a Crisis Not of Its Making' Sep 12, 2009
But the most devastating events have been in the less discussed informal sector. Relevant Links. (allAfrica.com)
Pension rules for poor by Sept-end Sep 12, 2009
According to a survey by Invest India Micro Pension Services, the agency that pioneered in low-cost pension services in the country, most of the 28 crore paid workers in the informal sector have no access to any pension scheme now. The proposed scheme would cover construction workers, drivers, daily wage labourers and other economically weak people. (India Times)
Rwanda: World Bank - Country Progress is Impressive Sep 11, 2009
Over 90 percent of our economy is made of Small and Medium Enterprises who are largely in the informal sector ... BROOK: We are hoping that people who right now might be working in the informal sector will be able to move their business into the formal sector without difficulty ... When Rwanda reduced the number of days it takes to start a business (3days), that can remove a burden to someone who has been thinking - should I run my business in the informal sector or go through the trouble to get... (allAfrica.com)
Government asked to secure livelihood of Ghanaians Sep 8, 2009
Government, it said, should be moving towards working collaboratively with existing associations in the informal sector with the aim of fully capturing their members in the tax net ... "Government's aim of reaching out to the large informal sector should not only rest on increasing resource mobilization but also serve as an avenue where tax payers can engage the government for the provision of the needed services and infrastructure towards growing their business. "This move is particularly... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Egypt: Economic Empowerment Gives Women Choices [interview] Sep 1, 2009
These are official labour figures, but they do not account for the informal sector. In the private sector you have a lot of micro-businesses that are run by women, though they are not registered and don't appear in the statistics. (allAfrica.com)
SSNIT Informal Sector Fund introduced in Hohoe Aug 31, 2009
Hohoe, Aug. 30, GNA - Mr Kwasi Boatin, Director-General of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on Friday said its subsidiary Informal Sector Scheme has the potential to facilitate the development efforts of government due to its capacity for enormous savings mobilization ... Mr Boatin disclosed this at the inauguration of the Hohoe Contact Office of the SSNIT Informal Sector Fund, first of a kind in the Volta Region ... He said the Fund is therefore envisioned to become the... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
MP, AP unveil first public-private NPS Aug 29, 2009
Micropension aims to provide retirement income to 28 crore paid workers in the informal sector, most of whom do not have access to any pension scheme now. Read business stories in. (India Times)
PIC launches Life Assurance Company and three others Aug 28, 2009
"One such simple product which I would urge life insurers to consider is micro-insurance. Through micro-insurance, the industry can reach the low income sector of the population which has hitherto not been targeted by our insurers. "If the products are packaged in such a way as to make the premiums affordable, and if the contract wordings are made brief, easily understandable and with just a few exclusions, they will have a greater appeal to the low income and rural households," she added. Ms... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
India, China to scan unorganised Ind Aug 27, 2009
China that has recently started recognising its informal sector will join hands with Indias premier rural development school Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) to study its unorganised sector ... Informal sector includes self-employed (unregistered businesses) and those in unregulated and unprotected jobs ... "India has a long history of research, activism and organisation, and policy intervention in this field. On the other hand, concept of informal employment has only recently... (India Times)
Why so poor? Aug 24, 2009
Both pointed out that the informal sector of most African economies is huge and almost completely unharnessed ... But such is their distrust of government officials that most businesspeople in the informal sector avoid all contact with the authorities. (BBC News -- Africa)
Government to provide Uniform Pension Scheme for all Aug 21, 2009
Bolgatanga, Aug 20, GNA - Mr. Thomas Ango Bediako, the Chairman of the Pensions Reform Implementation Committee, said on Thursday that the government would provide a uniform pension scheme for all workers in the informal sector with the implementation of the New Pension Scheme next year. He said this at Bolgatanga at the start of a regional tour by the Pension Reform Implementation Committee to educate the leadership of both formal and informal sector organizations and groups on the new pension... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Ghanas Health Care Arithmetic Where is the Money Going to? Aug 13, 2009
If only 50% of all goods and services in the country attract NHIL and taxes and the rest are in the informal sector, we should receive $100 Million towards the National health Insurance levy alone. Even if only 25% of the goods and services we produce in Ghana and import collect the NHIL, we still have a sizable $50 million to pay the doctors an extra $800 per month or only $5. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Open Letter To The President J.E.A Mills Aug 6, 2009
My heart is saddened as I write to you this letter due to the high rate of unemployment both at the formal and informal sector with no clear cut policy on job creation and the enabling platform for free enterprise. I was perplexed when your government secured loans from the Bretton Woods institutions in spite of the numerous diabolical conditions such as the freeze of employment into the public sector for the next two years. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
IRAQ: Iraqi refugees face urban challenges Aug 4, 2009
"It allows for better integration into the community and the chance to find work in the informal sector," says Etefa. sb/at/mw. (AlertNet)
* Asia-Pacifics women hardest hit by the economic downturn Aug 2, 2009
We have a growing informal sector and a growing migrant population [predominantly women], completely unprotected by legislation or any form of social security ... In its analysis of stimulus packages in 10 countries, the agency said most fiscal spending was directed toward male-dominated sectors and measures do not target informal sectors where the vast majority of workers are female. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Uganda: Local Milk Production Drops By Half as the Drought Continues Hitting Jul 30, 2009
The informal sector handles over 80% of the milk produced daily, while the remaining 20% is processed. The demand for milk and dairy products has exceeded production. (allAfrica.com)
South Africa: Thousands More Join Jobless Ranks Jul 29, 2009
The informal sector, excluding agriculture, lost 41000 jobs. The farming sector shed 28000 positions. (allAfrica.com)
Read more ... Jul 29, 2009
They are implemented without consideration for the informal sector, and the consequence is that informal sector jobs are never going to be created in a way that they could be with a different approach ... What they are lacking is the capacity to see that the informal sector needs to have a different set of rules. (Business Report, South Africa)
Informal Sector pension scheme takes off Jul 22, 2009
Accra, July 21, GNA - More than 40,000 people have subscribed to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Informal Sector Fund, a subsidiary of SSNIT that operates on a blend of the usual pension scheme and "Susu" contributions ... Mr Joseph Gordon-Mensah, Public Relations Officer of the SSNIT Informal Sector, told the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday that even those in the informal sector who are contributors to the SSNIT pension scheme are also registering with the informal scheme... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Zimbabwe: 'Another Operation Murambatsvina to Be Unleashed' Jul 21, 2009
com: Zimbabwe: 'Another Operation Murambatsvina to Be Unleashed' (Page 1 of 1). Zimbabwe: 'Another Operation Murambatsvina to Be Unleashed. (allAfrica.com)
Africa: Going Into Debt for Health Jul 16, 2009
As of September 2006, only 22 percent of workers in the informal sector had enrolled, according to the government; Seventy percent of Ghana's work force is in the informal sector. The government announced in early 2009 a "restructuring" of the insurance programme - which is estimated to cost more than $600 million a year - to improve claims manageme nt, increase medical services for communicable diseases, improve access to free maternal care and "better respond to the need of the population". (allAfrica.com)
ILO workplace HIVAIDS policy launched Jul 10, 2009
Mankessim, July 9, GNA - The International Labor Organization (ILO) HIV/AIDS Coordinator, Mrs. Akua Ofori-Asumadu, has said though in Ghana the informal sector of the economy commands about 86 per cent of the workforce, developing HIV/AIDS policies and implementation programmes for the sector face many challenges ... Mrs. Ofori-Assumadu said this at "Dissemination of Informal Sector HIV/AIDS workplace Policy and at ILO Code of Practice in Ghanaians Languages" launching at Mankessim ... "The ILO... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
"Government will not sit down unconcern ..."- Mr Ofosu-Ampofo Jul 10, 2009
He observed that the cocoa industry is one area in the informal sector, which provides employment for a lot of people and urged that nothing should be done to create unemployment. Stealing of inputs, discrimination in the spraying of farms, and inadequate spraying machines were identified as some of the challenges facing the spraying exercise in some districts. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Benyiwa-Doe urges assemblies to assist small scale enterprises Jul 6, 2009
She said the informal sector should be assisted with adequate credit facility and capacity building to enhance and improve their competition and job creation for the unemployed ... Mr Antwi-Boasiako said Government had introduced many credit facilities to support the informal sector to develop their capacity and jobs for the people and regretted that assistance under the poverty alleviation fund, youth in agriculture and other interventions had been abused by the beneficiaries. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Reviving local businesses to stem poverty in C/R Jul 3, 2009
The ILO hopes to extend it to three additional districts in the Region before the end of the year, targeting women, the youth in the informal sector and aspiring micro, small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs. The ILO realized the need for the stimulation of economic activities through local competitiveness in the districts, since local actors could play significant roles in creating sound business environment, to help bring about the economic transformation badly needed for the socio-economic... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Africa: Obama Administration Tackling Wide Range of African Issues - Johnnie Carson [interview] Jul 2, 2009
Equally, the absence of any economy and the devastation of the formal sector and the informal sector have resulted in Somalis becoming desperate. How effective are arms going to be in addressing that issue. (allAfrica.com)
G Das: UPA's Budget challenge Jun 28, 2009
Each morning they pull themselves up and go out and create a livelihood in the informal sector. Our regulations, alas, do not make it easy hence, India is rated 128th in the ease of doing business. (India Times, India)
Government abhors lame-committees - Chireh Jun 25, 2009
Speaking on the Informal Sector, Mr Chireh described it as an integral part of Ghana's economic development and called for recognition and modernization of the sector to play its effective role for the transformation of the national economy ... Mr Chireh urged stakeholders in the informal sector to work closely with the district assemblies' saying "this is one of the ways by which these informal economies can expand through training and education and can acquire basic tools" ... The Committee is... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Maid to order in India Jun 21, 2009
Yet this work is referred to as the 'informal sector' as if it were scarcely work at all. Maids are excluded from labour laws. (India Times, India)
'Philippines unemployment at 7.5%' Jun 16, 2009
The Labour Department recently said more than 16 million of the country's workforce were either "self-employed" or working in the "informal sector," which includes people working as pedicab drivers or in family-run shops. Read business stories in. (India Times)
Noida-based firm to recycle e-waste Jun 2, 2009
E-waste processing is dominated by the informal sector even as it is expected to cross a staggering 800,000 tonne mark by 2012. The organized sector is mostly absent. (India Times, India)
Govt sets 2015 target for universal health insurance May 26, 2009
The scheme encompasses government employees, the organised private sector and the informal sector. It also covers children under five, permanently disabled persons and prison inmates. (Guardian News, Nigeria)
Greece: 2009 Article IV Consultation: Concluding Statement of the IMF Mission May 26, 2009
Measures could include: (i) broadening tax bases by reducing exemptions and deductions; (ii) moving ahead decisively with taxing the self employed and the informal sector by using information cross-checking and presumptive taxation; (iii) increasing further selected excise taxes to the euro-area average; and (iv) suspending the corporate and personal income tax rate cuts of 1 percent a year through 2014 until the deficit is confirmed to be below 3 percent of GDP.. Incomes policy: The wage bill... (IMF News)
Birim Central IRS fails to exceed target May 26, 2009
"We have set ourselves, a target of 1,068,377.94 for 2009," the Chief Inspector of Taxes said, adding that, though revenue collection in the informal sector was extremely difficult, his office had put in measures to make the collection achievable. Mr Agyarko explained that the staff had embarked on an intensive tax campaign involving the local FM station and durbars to sensitize them on the need for businesses to honour their tax responsibilities. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
'Obama of Paraguay' has hands full, too May 25, 2009
Obama of Paraguay' has hands full, too. Obama of Paraguay' has hands full, too. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Security services to be part of new national pension scheme - Bediako May 24, 2009
The first tier will be the Basic National Social Security Scheme, the second tier, an occupational based (work place based) scheme and the third tier a voluntary provident fund and personal pension scheme designed for the informal sector but provide opportunity for the contributors of first and second tiers to make additional voluntary contribution to enhance their retirement benefits ... The committee, he said, had intensified its education on the new scheme to ensure that both formal and... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Africa: Should Aid Come to an End? [book review] May 22, 2009
For many Africans, particularly women, children and those working in the informal sector, the social impact of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) has been excruciatingly felt. Designed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), they have been the frame-work for economic and social policy in Africa since the early 1980s. (allAfrica.com)
Zimbabwe: Crackdown on Imported Goods Continues May 20, 2009
We encourage members of the public to continue supporting us in the fight against corruption," said Comm Nhandara. The bales are being kept at a safe place in the city and will be produced in court as exhibits. The raids followed a blitz launched last week by Zimra to stamp out rampant tax evasion by the informal sector. Various flea markets and unregistered retailers in and around Harare have since been raided. Traders who failed to produce proof of clearance at the various ports of entry had... (allAfrica.com)
Zimbabwe: Bring Tax Evaders to Book [editorial] May 14, 2009
This is particularly so where the country's informal sector has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade, while the formal sector has shrunk and is not large enough to warrant adequate revenue of direct taxes ... But it is too difficult to effectively put the vast informal sector and the many unregistered small businesses that have sprouted up at every corner of our cities and towns into the tax net. (allAfrica.com)
Rwanda: Tax Compliance Will Mitigate Financial Crisis [editorial] May 14, 2009
This means tax compliance must be emphasised particularly for Micro and Small and Medium (SMEs) enterprises who are the majority in the economy but operate predominantly in the informal sector. As they are more likely to engage in tax evasion or operate completely outside the tax net or hide part of their business transactions. (allAfrica.com)
Need for extensive reorganisation of tax administration in Ghana May 8, 2009
This could be a rhetorical question as it may be possible to argue that this is because of the large informal sector with poor accounting records ... However, it must be noted that the introduction of the VAT was intended to assist in broadening the tax base to capture the informal sector but many agencies registered for VAT collect the taxes but do not pay into IRS. Quite often we hear of operations which then bring to light some tax defaulters but nothing is heard about it for a while. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Rent tax compliance rate in V/R is low- Assistant Commissioner May 6, 2009
He said the informal sector remained the difficult area for the IRS but said strategies were being devised to collect large amount of collectable taxes from that sector. Mr Oppong-Damoah said tax education was being done on radio and television in local languages to enhance the understanding of the subject by all. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Youths need to be effectively targeted - World Bank May 6, 2009
" He emphasized the importance of improving the environment for the informal sector by requiring local authorities to sign job creation performance contracts. He also said that it was critical to support youth in agriculture, since most farmers in Kenya were more than 60 years old. "Our Trees for Jobs programme is meant for rural areas," Mr Murugu said. "Youth work with the forestry service, learn skills, and help to preserve the economic foundation of our country. " Professor Ahadzie of Ghana... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
President Mills: There's progress on Single-spine pay policy May 2, 2009
"We are introducing a range of social protection schemes in line with our social democracy philosophy. We are providing security to the informal sector, caring for the disabled as evidenced by the establishment of the Disability Council, and making sure that people living with AIDS are not discriminated against," the President announced. Government, he said, was in the process of providing free school uniforms and free textbooks to, at least one million needy school children, in the area of... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Transcript of the African Finance Ministers Press Briefing Apr 28, 2009
You are not collecting enough, particularly in the informal sector. Yet, you are turning towards those who are constantly putting you down to your knees and demanding such strong conditions from you. (IMF News)
Government to collaborate with training institutions, industry Apr 28, 2009
Speaking at a symposium on the theme: "Youth Employment and the Informal Sector in Ghana," to mark the 90th anniversary of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr. Kwao said the government's vision was to avoid the mismatch between skills supply and requirement by investing in people, jobs and the economy as a means of improving livelihoods. He therefore appealed to the ILO to extend its cooperation to cover new thematic areas such as social protection and employment creation, saying... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Symptom of a bigger problem Apr 16, 2009
In the face of overwhelming adversity they have created thriving businesses, operating entirely in the informal sector, and hospitals built and maintained with money sent home by the diaspora. However, people who have been forgotten by the world and hear of toxic waste dumped on their beaches and foreigners stealing their fish have difficulty being concerned when representatives of that world are held to ransom. (BBC News -- Africa)
MMDAs urged to strategize to improve local businesses Apr 16, 2009
Saltpond, (C/R), April 15, GNA - Dr Nii Moi Thompson, an Economist, on Tuesday urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to collaborate with stakeholders of the informal sector and exploit opportunities to boost activities of the sector in their localities ... At a two-day review workshop for members of the Mfantsiman District "Sub-Committee for Production and Gainful Employment" (SPDEs) at Saltpond, Dr Thompson, International Project Expert of the Local Economic Development... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Africa: Analysts Attack Regional Trade Deals Apr 12, 2009
" Deve said the liberalisation of the fishing sector will lead to loss of livelihoods for fisher folk while the liberalisation of trade in goods has implications for small traders in the informal sector. The decline in government revenue due to the loss of custom duties will affect social sector spending on essential services such as water provision, health and education. He added that there will also be a massive outflow of financial resources, which will lead to the further deterioration of... (allAfrica.com)
Employees' social security Apr 11, 2009
That number is projected to grow to two thirds of the workforce by 2020, assuming stable population trends and growth patterns, and could go higher if more jobs are lost to the economic crisis and more migrants return home to informal sector jobs ... calls for a comprehensive package that promotes good quality job creation not only in the formal sector, but also in the informal sector. (India Times)
Job insecurity 'getting worse' Apr 9, 2009
The increased number of workers in the informal sector will have "severe consequences for poverty" in poor countries, the OECD has warned ... Women and young people predominate in the informal sector ... The report says that even with robust growth rates, countries such as India, China and Brazil have a growing number of low-quality jobs in the informal sector. (BBC News -- Business)
Govt tasks states on fiscal prudence Apr 7, 2009
Akpabio said it was his administration's determination to sustain the current level of infrastructural development that had prompted government's need to create awareness in the minds of Akwa Ibom people too see the need to pay their taxes, especially those in the informal sector of the state economy. Tools. (Guardian News, Nigeria)
Traders Panic, AGI urges government to sit up Apr 7, 2009
On-the-ground interaction with leaders in business and traders in the informal sector by The Statesman reveals a considerable slide not only in terms of business activity but also investment returns ... He lamented that for the first quarter of the year, conditions on the Ghanaian market have not been favourable to the private sector, including the informal sector and the Small and Medium Enterprises in the country. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Pension Scheme for the informal sector in the offing Apr 3, 2009
Kumasi, April 2, GNA - Mr. T. A. Bediako, Chairman of the Pension Reform Implementation Committee (PRIC) has urged associations in the informal sector to contribute toward the establishment of a national pension scheme. He said currently, employees in the informal sector of the economy constituted 80 per cent of the working population ... Mr. Bediako was addressing members of identifiable associations from the informal sector at a sensitization programme organized in Kumasi on Wednesday. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Zimbabwe: G-20 Must Emulate SADC [editorial] Apr 2, 2009
We all have to harness them, whether we are in the private sector, Government, informal sector, the trade unions, we are duty-bound to well and truly serve our country. It is also our hope that the Western nations currently gathered in London for the G-20 Summit will put their money where their mouths are by scrapping their ruinous sanctions, restoring our lines of credit and encouraging investment into our economy. (allAfrica.com)
