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‘When the stomach is full we look for respect’: perceptions of ‘good work’ in the urban informal sectors of three developing countries

Author

Listed:
  • William Monteith

    (University of East Anglia, UK)

  • Lena Giesbert

    (German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Germany)

Abstract

There is growing interest in the ability of the informal sector to provide gainful work in much of the developing world. However, the literature on work in the informal sector remains dominated by resource- and rights-based approaches, which fail to consider the features of work valued by informal workers themselves. This article investigates perceptions of ‘good work’ based on focus group discussions with informal workers in the capitals of Uganda, Burkina Faso and Sri Lanka. Using the capability approach as a framework, it reveals that informal workers value a combination of instrumental features of work, such as income and working hours, and intrinsic aspects, such as relationships and recognition. The article’s findings contribute to debates on quality of work in formal and informal contexts by illustrating the role of social and environmental conversion factors, including gender and class relations, in mediating the relationship between work and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • William Monteith & Lena Giesbert, 2017. "‘When the stomach is full we look for respect’: perceptions of ‘good work’ in the urban informal sectors of three developing countries," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 31(5), pages 816-833, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:31:y:2017:i:5:p:816-833
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017016650606
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Nancy Benjamin & Ahmadou Aly Mbaye, 2012. "The Informal Sector in Francophone Africa : Firm Size, Productivity, and Institutions [Les entreprises informelles de l'Afrique de l'ouest francophone : Taille, productivité et institutions]," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 9364.
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    10. Suresh de Mel & David McKenzie & Christopher Woodruff, 2009. "Are Women More Credit Constrained? Experimental Evidence on Gender and Microenterprise Returns," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 1(3), pages 1-32, July.
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    Cited by:

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