Informality in Times of Covid-19 – The Impact of the 2020 Pandemic on Vulnerable Workers in South Africa

Journée d’étude/ Seminar

© IFAS-Research

November 19th, 2020

13:30 – 17:00

On the 19th of November, the French Institute will organise a seminar as part of the “Informality and Covid-19 in South Africa” project launched a few months ago by IFAS-Research. The main results of this research will be presented and discussed.

In June 2020, IFAS-Research commissioned Dr. Chaymaa Hassabo, Associate Researcher at the Department of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), to design and coordinate a field survey with a team of four young researchers from Southern Africa. Her ambition was to measure the social and economic effects of the pandemic on vulnerable populations in South Africa – and in particular on informal workers.

RSVP REQUIRED. Please notify Line Relisieux (line.relisieux@ifas.org.za) if you wish to participate via Zoom. In this case, we will send you a link by email a few days before the event.

PROGRAMME

13:30 – 17:00: Scientific presentations and discussion

o Presentation of the survey and main results, individual presentations by the members of the research team:

  • Dr. Chaymaa Hassabo: “Informality, lockdown and life trajectories”.
  • Celestine Jade Padayachee: “Studying the informal sector: A Reflection as a first-time Researcher. 
  • Bianca Thandeka Mcameni: “The business of food during Covid-19 lockdown: The Covid-19 experience of food delivery guys”.
  • Celestine Jade Padayachee and Bianca Thandeka Mcameni: “Quantitative analysis of the informal sector during lockdown”.
  • Edson Chido Mutisi: “The lockdown came as a surprise, but we had savings, side jobs and families to lean on”.
  • Ndipiwe Mkuzo: “A Covid-19 survey in Cape Town. Research experience and feedback” 
  • Dostin Lakika: “The impact of Covid-19 on foreigners’ menial jobs”.

o Perspectives for 2021.