Satyam Mishra
(Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India)
Anjan Sen
(University of Delhi)
Format:
Panel
Streams:
Informality
Sessions:
Wednesday 6 July, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Informality, Decent Work and Urban Development: Discussing Informal Economies and Cities across the Globe.
Panel P46b at conference DSA2022: Just sustainable futures in an urbanising and mobile world.
This panel aims to discuss the nature, issues, and challenges related to informality, decent work, and urban development in cities all over the world. We expect to have a debate on informality and provisions of decent work, also how a higher percentage of informality affects urban development.
Long Abstract:
Cities are host to economic productions and a range of economic activities; therefore, workers involved in economic activities make cities their homes. However, the political economy of cities decides what kind of quality of life anyone gets in any city, informal workers being less paid and devoid of workers' rights and decent work mostly take shelter in slums, squatter settlements, and makeshift houses that are unhygienic and devoid of quality of life. To promote labour rights, ILO proposed the 'decent work' concept with four components: productive employment, labour standards, social protection and social dialogue. By comparing and contrasting the work conditions in various countries and at different workplaces, workers' rights can be protected and promoted.
This panel session aims to discuss the nature, issues, and challenges related to informality, decent work, and urban development in both developed and developing countries. We welcome paper presentations or case studies on the above-mentioned theme from across the globe. Moreover, this session plans to bridge the outcomes of deliberations to empirical research and theory building. By approaching the established and new scholars with good knowledge of both theories and case studies, we expect a lively, relevant and much-needed debate on informality and provisions of decent work, also how a higher percentage of informality affects urban development. Finally, this session focuses on responding to increasing international invitations to develop more critical analyses of "who gets what, where and how" (Smith, 1974) in the context of informality, decent work and the political economy of cities.
The argument is that non-state actors should not be understood as a homogenous group. Rather, it is more helpful to make a differentiation between formal and informal non-state actors in cities of the global South where non-state actors play a developmental role in the realities of citizens.
Paper long abstract:
This paper discusses the concept of Non-State Actors (NSAs). The primary argument is that NSAs should not be debated as a homogenous group. Instead, it is more helpful to be specific when discussing non-state actors and drawing a distinction between making Non-State Actors and informal Non-State actors. The difference is significant in the context of the global South, where NSAs play an essential developmental role in the daily realities of citizens. Accordingly, the paper argues for the differentiation using the theory of understanding informality as a "site of critical analysis" by Banks et al. (2019). Understanding informality as a "site of critical analysis" means peeling the onion and moving beyond the status quo of merely perceiving informality as a function of the poor. The theoretical framework cautions against the normative idea that informality is inherently studying the poor. Informality goes beyond the poor, and this paper advances the perspective of informality as a "site of critical analysis" by using informal non-state actors. The critical analysis shows that the existence of informal non-state actors in the global South and the contribution thereof to development can be a function of solid informal institutions and results from weak formal institutions. This approach opens the space for informality studies to acknowledge the contribution of informal non-state actors based on the strength of informal institutions.
Examine time-poverty for informal workers in India. We find domestic, casual, and self-employed workers to be more likely to be overworked compared to wage-employed with female workers being more overworked than men. Female casual and self-employed workers are more likely to have less leisure time.
Paper long abstract:
Evidence on time use patterns of those engaged in informal work in India is still limited. We apply a multidisciplinary theoretical lens that draws upon feminist economics (women's agency and freedoms), sociology (border theory and conflict theory), and the literature on well-being (work-life balance and leisure) to understand time use among informal workers. Our research objective is two-fold. First, we examine whether informal workers including domestic, casual, and self-employed workers are more likely to be time poor compared to those engaged in wage employment. And second, we examine whether time poverty is more pronounced for women informal workers. We operationalize time poverty using four indicators: (i) being overworked, i.e., work more than 50 hours per week (ii) enjoy leisure time less than 60 percent of median leisure time (iii) being engaged in simultaneous activities during a time slot and (iv) being engaged in multiple activities over a certain duration. We undertake the analysis using the 2019 Time Use Survey, which is a nationwide survey. Our results suggest that, on average, domestic, casual, and self-employed workers are more likely to be overworked compared to those in wage employment. However, they are less likely to be engaging in simultaneous activities, multiple activities or enjoy less leisure time. Female domestic and casual workers are more likely to be overworked compared to their male counterparts. Further, female casual and self-employed workers are more likely to enjoy less leisure time. We also make comparisons using a smaller 1998 Time Use Survey to highlight long-term changes.
Lesser avenues for earnings has increased street-trade during festivals in Delhi. Itinerants faces eviction and confiscation with no access to basic facilities. The paper explores their problems and suggest ways to give recognition to such trade through policy initiative and legal reforms.
Paper long abstract:
The rising population, lesser avenues for earnings, rising debt burdens, and a large migration or rural population, has increased unauthorised street trade in Delhi, especially during the festivals. Though it is a source of livelihood for the poor, this is leading to urban chaos with shrinkage of the pedestrian and public space. Itinerants face the threats of eviction, violence, confiscation of goods. They do not have access to basic facilities. This is also creating the gap between the haves and the have-nots. The philosophers suggest seeing unity in duality to respond to the plight of the not-haves and ultimately restore the imbalance that persists in the world. The objective of the paper is to understand the problems of street-trade vendors during the festive-season in Delhi; devise ways to respond to the troubles that engulf and threaten the lives of the not-haves, here the street vendors, by giving recognition to such trade through policy initiative and legal reforms. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used. Primary sources included semi-structured interviews of street-traders, Municipal Authorities, urban planners and legal experts. Review of literature, study of regulatory framework, working papers and research surveys formed the secondary sources. The paper suggested that the Local Municipal Authorities should give recognition to festive-time street-trade and draw a policy framework to formalise such a trade by charging a nominal fee. Also, the municipal authorities should demarcate the areas for such vendors ensuring shop space, basic facilities and sanitation during the festival season.
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Anjan Sen (University of Delhi)
Short Abstract:
This panel aims to discuss the nature, issues, and challenges related to informality, decent work, and urban development in cities all over the world. We expect to have a debate on informality and provisions of decent work, also how a higher percentage of informality affects urban development.
Long Abstract:
Cities are host to economic productions and a range of economic activities; therefore, workers involved in economic activities make cities their homes. However, the political economy of cities decides what kind of quality of life anyone gets in any city, informal workers being less paid and devoid of workers' rights and decent work mostly take shelter in slums, squatter settlements, and makeshift houses that are unhygienic and devoid of quality of life. To promote labour rights, ILO proposed the 'decent work' concept with four components: productive employment, labour standards, social protection and social dialogue. By comparing and contrasting the work conditions in various countries and at different workplaces, workers' rights can be protected and promoted.
This panel session aims to discuss the nature, issues, and challenges related to informality, decent work, and urban development in both developed and developing countries. We welcome paper presentations or case studies on the above-mentioned theme from across the globe. Moreover, this session plans to bridge the outcomes of deliberations to empirical research and theory building. By approaching the established and new scholars with good knowledge of both theories and case studies, we expect a lively, relevant and much-needed debate on informality and provisions of decent work, also how a higher percentage of informality affects urban development. Finally, this session focuses on responding to increasing international invitations to develop more critical analyses of "who gets what, where and how" (Smith, 1974) in the context of informality, decent work and the political economy of cities.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Wednesday 6 July, 2022, -