COVID-19 Crisis and the Informal Economy: Home-Based Workers in Tiruppur, India

Abstract

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 in most cities) and in June 2020 (when restrictions had been eased in most cities) 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. The research partner in Tiruppur was Social Awareness and Voluntary Education (SAVE), an NGO which founded and supports Anuhatham, a trade union of home-based workers. SAVE surveyed 60 home-based workers who are members of Anuhatham. They also interviewed four leaders of Anuhatham and two other key informants: one from the local Employers’ Association, the other from a local trade union.

This report presents the summary findings of Round 1 of the study in Tiruppur, India.