Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 38.2
Percentage of production that is informal in selected developing
countries.
Source:
United Nations 1995: p. 135, Table 9.
'domestic piecework', with workers paid by the
unit of production completed. Outwork is
particularly common in industries in which part
of a commodity's elaboration lends itself to
labour-intensive methods that can be
performed with minimal technology in people's
own homes. Key industries here include toys,
footwear and clothing (see Benería and Roldan
1987; Chant and McIlwaine 1995: Chapter 4;
Peña Saint Martin and Gamboa Cetina 1991).
As noted above, a major feature of most
informal employment is that it is unregulated by
the state. Yet while regulation clearly implies
legality, legality itself is a multidimensional
concept, with Thomas (1997: p. 6) pointing out
that 'being legal usually involves complying with
a number of regulations often imposed by a
variety of different authorities'. More specifically,
Plate 38.1
Home-based
'sari-sari'
store, Boracay, the
Philippines
(photograph: Sylvia Chant).
