Informal workers seek a voice in African trade
Rank 9 | Work and inclusion | Africa (11-country study) | SDGs 8, 10, 17
Source publication: 2 October 2026. Clock time not stated by publisher. Evidence status: Research findings and representation proposals.
AI-generated representative illustration | two-colour linocut with earth-green and burnt sienna. Credit: Development Connects | Kallol Saha.
More than three-quarters of jobs linked to trade are informal in the 11 African countries examined by new International Labour Organization research released on 2 October. The sample covers countries accounting for about 45% of continental employment, so the finding should not be presented as a direct census of all African trade jobs. The ILO estimates informality exceeds 85% of total employment across the continent.
The report says informality is especially widespread in agriculture, where it estimates 98% of workers are informal. These workers may face unstable earnings and limited access to social protection, while trade reforms can change prices, market access and compliance costs. The ILO drew on consultations with more than 70 stakeholders to examine how informal workers can participate in decisions.
Case detail
The representation problem is practical. A person can be a worker and an own-account business operator at the same time, which makes conventional employer-worker categories a poor fit for some informal activities. The consultations drew on stakeholders in Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Uganda; this consultation group is different from the eleven-country employment-data sample.
The brief proposes connecting cooperatives and informal-economy associations with established workers' and employers' organizations and with trade-agreement mechanisms, including those of the African Continental Free Trade Area. It also highlights women engaged in informal cross-border trade, who can face harassment, insecurity and difficulty navigating rules. The release reports research and proposed routes into dialogue, rather than a completed change in representation.
Evidence and delivery status
The brief identifies a gap between workers' economic role and their presence in policy discussions. Its proposals concern participation and institutional connections. It does not report a new trade treaty, an achieved formalization rate or measured income gains attributable to the recommended mechanisms.
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