Conference Agenda

Most young people in the world work in the informal economy. Indeed, the youth informality rate is elevated in comparison to other age groups (ILO, 2022; Quintini and Martin, 2014). Understanding young people’s conditions of work in the informal economy and whether this work leads to better quality formal economy work is of vital policy importance. Understanding this situation requires a gendered approach as we expect significant gender differences as our previous research points to highly gendered participation in domestic work which has substantial material implications, for example on the wages that young men and women can achieve (Carmichael et al., 2023).

This research sets out to understand (i) the differential participation of young men and women in the informal economy (ii) differences in job quality between the formal and informal economy (self-employment and informal work in the informal economy) and (iii) to what extent work in the informal economy leads to participation in the formal economy. The answers to the questions can contribute to our understanding of what types of labour and social protection would protect workers in informal employment, as we discuss in the article.

We address these questions by analysing longitudinal data from Young Lives for Peru, Vietnam, India and Ethiopia, using the fourth and fifth survey rounds conducted when respondents were at ages 19 and 22 respectively. We compare the attributes of self-employed and informal waged work with salaried work in the formal economy, using tests of difference in means between self-employed and formal salaried work and between informal waged work and formal salaried work at age 22. Work in both categories of informality tends to be lower quality, as found across the four study countries, particularly in relation to underemployment but also in conditions of health and safety.

Ways of participating are highly gendered, shaped by women’s long hours of work in care. Employment participation for women is about 15 percentage points below that of men and the gender wage gap is just under 20%. A high proportion of women transition from informal work to not in education or employment and then undertake care work, with significant implications for their position of power within households. Perhaps surprisingly, we find fairly high mobility between all types of employment and non-employment providing much empirical evidence from which to understand the conditions under which the informal economy can lead to formal economy employment.

In the last three decades, Türkiye has developed various policies to effectively combat informal employment and has achieved positive and successful results in stable economic growth. The unregistered employment rate decreased from 52% in 2000 to 26.6% in 2023, and in the non-agricultural sector, from 34% in 2004 to 17% in 2023. The aim of the study is to examine the reforms and practices carried out in the last thirty years and their effects on formal employment to combat informal employment and extend the social security coverage in Türkiye. Türkiye has extended the compulsory social insurance coverage with its reforms in the field of social security. Policies carried out in the fight against informal employment can be examined on two main axes. The first of these is increasing coercive policies and social security inspection regarding formal work. In the last thirty years in Türkiye, the number of Social Security Institution inspectors has increased almost tenfold. With the reforms, all public institutions and organizations, especially the tax office, professional organizations and banks are obliged to share data with the Social Security Institution. Thus, cross-control between public institutions and organizations was ensured. Administrative fines for employing unregistered workers have been increased. In addition, the automation infrastructure, where workers can check their registered work and query their services via phone or web page, was established in the early 2000s. The second policy axis towards registered work is increasing compliance. The practice of cutting off the social assistance of social assistance recipients if they are registered (compulsory insured) are working has been terminated. More than twenty active labour market programs which includes social security contribution incentive programs have been implemented for employers. In the study, the policies and programs implemented in the fight against unregistered employment between 1999 and 2023 were examined using the document analysis method. Then, the relationship between informal employment rates and the factors affecting formal employment, including various policy measures and economic growth, was examined using the correlation method.

Introduction: Cooperatives play a significant role in promoting decent employment, economic resilience, and social inclusion. However, their economic contribution remains underreported due to gaps in statistical frameworks. This study aims to address this issue by operationalizing measurement methodologies that capture the full scope of cooperative economic activity. By aligning with Track I of the RDW Conference, "Decent employment now: Can the standard growth and development models deliver?", this research critically examines the effectiveness of existing economic models and proposes alternative approaches rooted in cooperative enterprises.

Research Questions :

• How can we systematically measure the economic impact of cooperatives?

• What are the challenges and opportunities in integrating cooperative statistics into national accounts?

• How do cooperatives contribute to employment stability, income distribution, and social protection in contrast to traditional growth models?

Methodology: The research employs a mixed-methods approach, including a review of existing statistical frameworks, case studies from various countries, and an assessment of data integration strategies. It incorporates both qualitative and quantitative analyses, utilizing surveys, national statistics, and cooperative financial reports. The study builds on the ILO Guidelines concerning Statistics of Cooperatives and empirical findings from ongoing pilot studies.

Contribution to the Literature: This research contributes to the growing discourse on alternative economic models by providing a robust methodology for measuring the economic footprint of cooperatives. It aligns with broader efforts to enhance labor statistics and employment policies while demonstrating how cooperatives serve as viable solutions for achieving decent employment. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers seeking to adapt labor market institutions to contemporary challenges.

Findings: Preliminary results highlight the need for harmonized classification standards, improved data collection mechanisms, and stronger institutional coordination. Cooperatives are shown to provide stable employment, mitigate economic shocks, and promote equitable income distribution. Integrating cooperative statistics into labor market analysis can provide a more comprehensive picture of employment structures and economic development pathways.

Recognizing and accurately measuring the economic contribution of cooperatives is critical for informed policy-making. This research underscores the importance of incorporating cooperative statistics into national and international labor frameworks to ensure the sustainability of decent employment models. By challenging conventional economic paradigms and emphasizing worker-centric approaches, cooperatives represent a transformative force in the pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development.

Digitalization of the agriculture sector has been argued as the solution to the threat of food insecurity in the Global South. However, its adoption brings serious ramifications to the working conditions of farmers in terms of job creation, worker rights, social protection, and social dialogue. Given the role of the state in ensuring that all forms of employment are organized decently it is however uncertain how digitalization of the agriculture affects the working conditions of farm workers and farmers. The study therefore examined the effects of digital agriculture on the working conditions of smallholder farmers and farmworkers in the Bono East region of Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative approach to enable us to have a deeper understanding of farmers’ experiences of using digital agriculture solutions. The participants who were purposively selected were adopters of digital agricultural technology. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were some of the methods adopted to collect data for the study. The results from the study show that the adoption of digital agriculture has not improved the working conditions in terms of job creation, workers’ rights social protection, and social protection. Digital agriculture was however found to promote the organization of farmers into groups to undertake activities for their benefit. The study therefore recommends the development of a digital agricultural policy that incorporates decent working conditions for farmers.

The dynamic interplay between legal and policy frameworks and the efficacy of social enterprises (SEs) is critical in promoting decent employment globally. This study examines how legal and policy mechanisms influence SE governance, sustainability, and their role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a specific focus on South Africa and comparative insights from other regions. The central research question probes how legal and policy frameworks can be designed to optimise the impact of SEs on socio-economic challenges, particularly poverty and unemployment.

Methodologically, this research adopts a comparative case study approach, analysing policies across diverse socio-economic contexts, including South Korea, Europe, and South Africa. It integrates policy analysis with stakeholder interviews and secondary data review to elucidate the intersections of policy innovation and SE scalability. The study also leverages theoretical insights into hybridity and entrepreneurial dynamics to evaluate the adaptability of SEs within varying legislative environments.

The findings highlight the pivotal role of flexible and inclusive policies in fostering SE growth. For instance, the study underscores how tailored legal frameworks in Europe have catalysed SE operations, enabling them to address welfare and environmental issues effectively. Conversely, South Africa's absence of a dedicated SE legal structure has constrained SEs' potential, despite their significant contributions to socio-economic development. The analysis reveals that integrating SDGs into SE policies enhances their effectiveness, particularly in addressing localised socio-economic needs.

This research contributes to the literature by bridging the gap between SE governance and global policy objectives, emphasising the necessity of a supportive policy ecosystem for SEs to thrive. It calls for a paradigm shift in policy design to recognise SEs as hybrid entities capable of driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth. By advocating for adaptive legal frameworks, this study aligns with the theme of strengthening labour institutions and worker voice, underscoring the potential of SEs to deliver decent employment while addressing pressing societal challenges.