‘Violence affected 77pc of city’s informal labourers between 2007 and 2013’

Karachi’s informal labour is susceptible to multiple pressures which include double jobs, lack of inclusion in government policies, problems with local authorities, changing economic variables besides several others.

Moreover, particular groups within the informal economy such as those working in precarious sectors as street vending and home-based enterprise are more vulnerable than others; provincial migrant labourers, particularly Pashtuns, and women are also more at risk.

These findings were published in a recent study titled ‘The Informal Economy in Urban Violence: Karachi, Pakistan’, conducted by experts at UK’s Cardiff University in collaboration with the NED University and two civil society organisations –  NOW Communities and Takhleeq Foundation.

The study was a part of research led by Cardiff University on Economic Recovery in Post-Conflict cities: the role of the urban informal economy, and was led by Prof Alison Brown and Dr Peter Mackie. It involved around 250 informal labourers and over 40 local experts.

Karachi was selected for the research because of the rapid rise in sectarian violence and political and ethnic segregation of the city. The core focus of the research was to explore the role of informal economy during sectarian violence, its evolution and current economic contribution to the city.

Four main research methods were adopted to carry out the study; they included a conflict mapping workshop with 23 informal economy workers including vendors, fishermen, construction labourers and home-based workers; semi-structured interviews with 218 informal labourers including 187 who had experienced violence, and interviews with 43 higher ups of the central and local government, representatives of international and local NGOs, academicians and community groups.

According to the study, 77 percent of Karachi’s informal sector’s workers were affected by violence that occurred in the city from 2007 and 2013. Impacts included direct involvement in urban violence, loss of family and friends, disruption of livelihood, displacement and general fear. 

Besides already facing discrimination and despised for working in the public sphere, female workers where on the one hand experienced increased gender violence, on the other hand, also found new livelihood opportunities.

The study found that inclusion in urban policies and extending labour rights could legitimise and empower workers of the informal economy. Only 14 percent of the workers were involved with a trade union but the support of an association could provide them a vital platform to claim more rights.

Improved literacy and business skill training could also address a plethora of their difficulties such as those faced owing to limited formal education, particularly amongst provincial migrants and women. The study also found that secure and serviced operating spaces could protect vulnerable members of the economy and encourage business growth and improve urban governance.

The study also noted that labour law of 2010 did not recognise the informal sector owing to which the workers do not have legal protection. While, the provinces are in process of adopting new laws and regulations, in Karachi notable steps taken include approval of the policy recognising home-based workers as formal labourers. However, limited capacity, resources and coordination difficulties reflect that the progress is slow.

The report also made eight recommendations, including neighbourhood-level planning for the informal economy, the extension and implementation of labour rights for all informal economy workers, enhanced support for female workers and  a more coordinated and supportive approach to anti-encroachment activities.

To keep encroachment in check, the study suggested forming an Informal Economy Committee under the Karachi Development Authority’s check, but included street vendors, waste pickers and other informal labourers affected by anti-encroachment drives.

Currently 13 agencies, including the KDA, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and other development authorities have powers to carry out anti-encroachment drives, which meant that actions are neither coordinated nor predictable.

The study argued that the need for specific intervention to socially and economically empower women has already been recognised by the Sindh government with the association of the Women Development Department. The introduction of new laws such as the Domestic Violence Act, 2013 is also an example of the measures taken in this respect.