People working in the informal economy are disproportionately affected by Covid-19. They do not benefit from the financial reliefs provided to those formally employed, and face increased risks of falling ill or into debt traps.
In our latest video produced in partnership with the Institute of Development Studies, researchers Keetie Roelen, Max Gallien, and Phil Mader describe the threats and argue that social safety nets need to go further to protect the most vulnerable.
Watch the video
Keetie Roelen is the Director of the Centre for Social Protection at IDS. Read her piece: “People in poverty bear the brunt of Covid-19, and the worst is yet to come”
Max Gallien leads the ICTD’s Informality and Taxation programme with Vanessa van den Boogaard. Read their piece: “To fight Covid-19, only the formal economy is getting tax breaks. The informal economy may be asked to foot the bill”
Phil Mader is a Research Fellow in Business Markets and the State at IDS. Read his piece: “The informal sector urgently needs cash and debt relief”
Learn more about the issues of Covid-19 and the informal economy in the summary here.