February 2025

How to unlock the potential of micro pension schemes

The informal economy plays a critical role in Kenya, contributing significantly to economic growth and vitality. Comprising diverse workers, from market traders and artisans to small-scale entrepreneurs and gig workers, this sector represents the backbone of the country's workforce. Yet, despite its significance, individuals in the economy often find themselves excluded from traditional pension arrangements. The absence of employer-provided benefits and access to formal pension schemes leaves millions vulnerable, with little to no safety net to secure their futures when they are...

January 2025

Designing Benefits for Platform Workers

By Jonathan Gruber Designing benefits for the growing platform workforce in the U.S. poses significant challenges. While platform workers need protection against unforeseen shocks, work that is often part time and spread across multiple platforms makes the traditional benefits model untenable. This paper reports the results from a survey of drivers and couriers working with Uber to help understand their benefits preferences. We find that there is a wide diversity across these workers in platform earnings, the share of platform...

December 2024

Nigeria. PenCom targets 20 million contributors under micro-pension scheme

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) is targeting inclusion of over 20 million contributors in its Micro Pension Scheme as part of its plans to overhaul and expand the commission’s landscape. The commission said the overhauling of the Micro Pension Plan (MPP) was part of a broader strategy to increase financial inclusion and extend pension coverage to more Nigerians, particularly in the informal sector. The reforms, announced by the Director General, Omolara Oloworaran, during the 2024 PenCom Media Conference in Lagos on Thursday,...

Nigeria. PenCom to remodel micro-pension scheme – DG

The Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Omolola Oloworaran, has revealed that the micro pension scheme would be remodelled to boost participation. Oloworaran said this on Thursday at the 2024 PenCom Media Conference held in Lagos. Micro pensions are specifically designed for individuals in the informal sectors. She said, “What we are doing with a micro pension is treating it a little differently from how we were doing it before. As we know, the micro pension doesn’t resonate with everyone within the...

Zimbabwe. Government urged to incentivise informal sector formalisation

ANALYSTS and other key business players have implored the Government to invest more in incentivising informal sector players to transition into formal business operations to enhance economic stability and improve tax revenues. Mr James Wadi, an economic analyst said this while giving an appraisal of the 2025 National Budget at the post–budget breakfast meeting hosted by Business Weekly in collaboration with the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion on Monday. Zimbabwean products Mr...

31% of Canadian employees rely on gig work to help cover expenses: survey

A third (31 per cent) of Canadian employees say they rely on gig work in some capacity to help cover regular expenses, according to a new survey by ADP Canada. The survey, which polled more than 1,200 employees, found among gig workers, 17 per cent said gig work is their primary source of income for covering expenses. The main industries solicited by gig workers are transportation, retail and grocery. On a scale of one to 10, workers reported an average happiness...

Kenya. Jua kali workers to receive formal certification under proposed law

Kenyan artisans working in the informal sector, popularly known as jua kali, could soon receive formal recognition for their skills, following a proposed law which seeks to establish a structured system for assessing and certifying their expertise. If passed, the Bill would make it mandatory for the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) to create a system for assessing individuals who have acquired skills through non-formal, informal, or experiential learning methods. Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron introduced the Bill known as the...

Rise and Challenges of India’s Gig Economy

According to a white paper by the Forum for Progressive Gig Workers, the gig economy in India is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17%, reaching USD 455 billion by 2024, driving significant economic growth and employment opportunities. What is the Gig Economy? About: The gig economy refers to a labor market characterized by short-term, and flexible jobs often facilitated through digital platforms. It involves individuals or companies offering services on a temporary or task-by-task basis, rather...

The widening gender wage gap in the gig economy in China: the impact of digitalisation

The gig economy, fundamentally relying on the digital economy, is often celebrated for its potential to expand employment opportunities and close gender wage gaps. However, research on its gender impacts in China, the largest developing country with a rapidly expanding gig sector, is notably lacking. Employing discrimination theory, the findings challenge the prevailing optimistic view on the role of the gig economy. Utilising the China Labour Dynamics Survey data from 2014, 2016, and 2018, and applying the Bourguignon, Fournier,...

Belgium’s sex workers get maternity leave and pensions under world-first law

“I had to work while I was nine months pregnant,” says Sophie, a sex worker in Belgium. “I was having sex with clients one week before giving birth.” She juggles her job with being a mother of five - which is “really hard”. When Sophie had her fifth child by Caesarean, she was told she needed bed rest for six weeks. But she says that wasn’t an option, and she went back to work immediately. “I couldn’t afford to stop because I...