Can Workers in the Informal Economy Organize for Labour Rights? Evidence from Tanzania's Transport Workers

This Development Viewpoint draws on Rizzo 2013 to analyse how informal transport workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, succeeded over time in building a workers’ organisation that made progress in establishing employment rights for its members. It is widely believed that organising efforts for employment rights among informal workers are not likely to be successful. The main reason given is that informal employment relationships do not embody a direct employer–employee relationship. But the relative success of Tanzania’s transport workers demonstrates that progress can be made. And their protracted struggles highlight some important general lessons.