Economic Policy and Women's Informal Work in South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID3884669
AuthorsImraan Valodia (0000-0002-5607-6595, University of KwaZulu-Natal, corresponding author)
Year2001
Volume32
Issue5
Pages871-892
Publication date2001-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDevelopment and Change (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0012-155X • E-ISSN: 1467-7660
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-7660.00230
OpenAlexW1964344833
LanguageEN
Citations received18

This article examines the gender dimensions of the growth in informal and flexible work in South Africa and the government's policy response to this. It outlines the growth in informal and flexible work practices and, as illustrative examples, analyses how trade and industrial policies and labour market policies are impacting on the growth of informal and flexible work. It is argued that the South African government's trade and industrial policies are shifting the economy onto a path of capital intensification. Allied to this, firms are undergoing a process of extensive restructuring. These developments are further promoting the growth of flexibilization and informalization, and thereby disadvantaging women. The article demonstrates that whilst the government offers a vast package of support measures to big business, its policy is largely irrelevant to the survivalist segment of small business, where most women in the informal economy are to be found. The picture for labour policy is more diverse. Aspects of the labour legislation are promoting the growth of a dual labour market, whilst there seems to be some tightening up of practices aimed at bypassing aspects of the protection provided to workers

Capital (architecture) · Economic growth · Economic restructuring · Economics · Government (linguistics) · Industrial policy · Informal sector · Labour economics · Legislation · Market economy · Political science · Public policy · Restructuring · Work (physics) · Digital Economy and Work Transformation · Labor Movements and Unions · Taxation and Compliance Studies