COVID-19 Crisis and the Informal Economy is a WIEGO-led 12-city longitudinal study that assesses the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on specific groups of informal workers and their households. Using a survey questionnaire and in-depth interviews, Round 1 assessed the impact of the crisis in April 2020 (the period of peak restrictions) and in May/June 2020 (when restrictions had been eased) in comparison to February 2020 (pre-COVID-19). Round 2 will assess continuing impacts versus signs of recovery in the first half of 2021, compared to the pre-COVID-19 period and Round 1.
This report presents the summary findings of Round 1 of the study in Pleven, Bulgaria. Researchers in Pleven surveyed home-based workers, street vendors, and domestic workers who are members of the Bulgarian Trade Union of Self-employed and Informal Workers (UNITY). They also interviewed six informal-worker leaders and two key informants from government and civil society.
This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of IDRC or its Board of Governors.
History
Publisher
Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)
Citation
WIEGO (2020) COVID-19 Crisis and the Informal Economy: Informal Workers in Pleven, Bulgaria, Manchester: WIEGO