Does the unconditional cash transfer program in South Africa provide support for women after child birth? Barriers to accessing the child support grant among women in informal work in Durban, South Africa

Background The child support grant (CSG) is the largest unconditional cash transfer program in Africa and aims to alleviate poverty and improve child health and nutrition in low-income families in South Africa. Among informal working women, the CSG is an important source of income after childbirth when informal workers are unable to work, but reports suggest that women experience delays in accessing the CSG. We explore experiences and challenges of accessing the CSG among informal workers in Durban, South Africa. Methods We undertook a longitudinal mixed-methods cohort study. Women informal workers were recruited during pregnancy and followed-up for up to one year after the baby was born. Quantitative questionnaires and semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to collect data about women’s plans for applying for the CSG, the application process, use of the CSG in the household, and household food insecurity. Interviews were conducted in IsiZulu by experienced researchers. Descriptive analysis of quantitative data used SPSS v26, and framework analysis using NVIVO v12.3 was used for qualitative analysis. Results Twenty-four informal working women were enrolled. The CSG received for older children was reported as an important and reliable source of income for mothers after childbirth. However, delays receiving the CSG for the new baby meant this support was unavailable to first-time mothers. The complex application process for the CSG required mothers to travel to various government departments to complete the required documentation, often taking the baby with them. This was costly and time-consuming for mothers who were already vulnerable, and led to delays in obtaining CSG funds. Many women experienced moderate or severe food insecurity before and after the baby was born. As a result, some mothers had to return to work earlier than planned, disrupting childcare and breastfeeding. Conclusions Cash transfer programmes can effectively support low income households and improve outcomes for mothers and children. In South Africa there is a need for innovative approaches to streamline CSG applications, so women can access the funds immediately post-delivery to fill a resource gap and provide support at a vulnerable time for mothers and their children.

PKM Education on Occupational Safety and Health in the COVID 19 Pandemic to Employees of PT. Astamukti Airtech Nusatama

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the order of society, it is recommended that they are even forced to stay at home, go to school, work and even worship at home. Almost all countries urge their citizens not to move outside the home if there is no urgent need. Informal workers because around 61 percent of the global workforce are particularly vulnerable during the pandemic, have to face higher OSH risks, and lack adequate protection. Occupational Health and Safety (K3) is a thought and effort to ensure the integrity and perfection of both the physical and spiritual workforce, in particular, the implementation of Community Service (PKM) in the Covid-19 pandemic to employees of PT. Astamukti Airtech Nusatama. The results of the socialization and education of K3 employees better understand and realize the importance of the OHS system and the implementation of the Covid-19 pandemic health protocol in the workplace, the importance of management support that continuously provides understanding through discussion and training so that they are aware, understand and be able to consistently apply K3 and health protocols continuously in the corporate environment.

Impact of COVID-19 on Indian Migrant Workers and the Informal Sector

The Indian and the international media presented the Indian migrant workforce's troubles during the COVID-19 crisis. The unprecedented circumstances opened a Pandora's box of years of neglect and sidelining of the welfare and wellness of the migrant workers of the informal sector. The literature was sourced from the workforce migration literature of India, newspapers, government and private agency reports, population census of 2011, and research papers published during the period. This exploratory research has the objective to explore the informal sector's background and the migrant workers of India before the pandemic to understand the immediate short-term implications and the long-term impact of the pandemic across all sections of the informal workers. Finally, the research concludes with a discussion on the policy imperatives deemed to have a beneficial effect on the migrant workers in future years, once the COVID-19 crisis is over.

Gestão de Resíduos Sólidos e Trabalho Informal: a experiência do município de Francisco Beltrão (Paraná) ## Solid Waste Management and Informal Work: the experience of the municipality of Francisco Beltrão (Paraná, Brazil)

Este trabalho de abordagem qualitativa, buscou conhecer a trajetória de vida de agentes ambientais e a importância atribuída por eles à atividade de catador de material reciclável, bem como conhecer as experiências do município de Francisco Beltrão-PR em atividades relacionadas ao tratamento de resíduos sólidos. Foram entrevistados três trabalhadores informais que atuam na coleta de materiais recicláveis, mediante termo de consentimento com a pesquisa. E, para compreender a concepção que subsidia as ações do poder público municipal, foi entrevistado o diretor da Secretaria Municipal do Meio Ambiente. Dentre os resultados das entrevistas com os catadores, destaca-se que a catação de material reciclável se torna alternativa na falta de qualificação para o mercado de trabalho. Estes trabalhadores são frequentemente submetidos a situações de risco à saúde e rotina diária exaustiva realizada em condições precárias, corroborando com a entrevista realizada com o diretor da Secretaria Municipal do Meio Ambiente. Os resultados da pesquisa podem contribuir no reconhecimento do trabalho exercido pelos agentes ambientais e/ou catadores de material reciclável como relevante para a sociedade. ABSTRACTThis qualitative approach work searched to know the life trajectory of environmental agents and the importance assigned by them to the activity of collecting recyclable material, and to know the experiences lived by the city of Francisco Beltrão activities related to solid waste treatment. Three informal workers that act in collecting recyclable material were interviewed, through permission form about the research. And, to understand the conception that subsidizes the actions of the municipal government, the director of Environmental Municipal Secretary was interviewed. Among the collectors’ interviews results, it is noteworthy that collecting recyclable material becomes an alternative in the absence of enough qualification to the labor market. These workers are frequently subjected on health risks situations and an exhaustive routine performed in precarious conditions, corroborating the interview conducted with the Environment Municipal Secretary director. The research results can contribute to the environmental agents and/or recyclable material collectors works recognition as relevant to the society.

Otonomi Kolektif dan Operasionalisasi Kesadaran Publik dalam Gerakan Solidaritas Pangan Jogja (SPJ)

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the pattern of interaction and socialization of community members. One of them is an effort to build awareness and social solidarity to help each other, especially in the dimension of domestic needs, such as food fulfillment. The Jogja Food Solidarity Movement (Solidaritas Pangan Jogja/SPJ) represents a collective action that grew because of the awareness of individuals and groups to distribute food aid to informal workers and marginalized groups in Yogyakarta. This paper examines two main points; first, how SPJ manages its social network pattern during the Covid-19 pandemic. Second, why the SPJ movement is autonomous. Using a qualitative approach and case study method, this paper finds that the SPJ movement maximizes social capital through networks and social support from non-governmental institutions, activist groups, artists, students, and the Kulon Progo Coastal Farmers Association (Paguyuban Petani Lahan Pantai/PPLP) to distribute food. to the public. The SPJ movement is formed organically, autonomously and rationally, which is a manifestation of systematically organized collective action. Through the analysis of the Resource Mobilization Theory (Teori Mobilisasi Sumber Daya/TMSD), the SPJ movement is needed to create and show collective dissatisfaction, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, namely without which dissatisfaction is only at the individual level.

HIV and TB Workplace Program for Street Vendors: A Situational Analysis

In South Africa, 15 percent of informal economy workers are street vendors. The organization of occupational health services in the country is fragmented and does not cover informal workers. Conditions of work make informal workers extremely vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) exposure. In this study, a qualitative risk assessment was conducted among street vendors, followed by focus group discussions. Interpretation of data was according to major themes extracted from discussions. Workers are exposed to several occupational health hazards identified during the risk assessment. There is a lack of workplace HIV and TB services and overall poor access to healthcare. Street vendors, especially females, are at higher risk of HIV, due to gender inequalities. Comprehensive gender-sensitive training on occupational health and safety, HIV, and TB should be prioritized. To reach Universal Health Coverage and achieve the Sustainable Developmental Goals’ targets, the health system should improve services for informal economy workers.