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ASR FORUM: ENGAGING WITH AFRICAN INFORMAL ECONOMIES: Lagos Tailors, Trade Unions, and Organizations in the Informal Economy

  • Gunilla Andrae (a1) and Björn Beckman (a2)
Abstract:

In January 2012 a broad spectrum of popular groups staged an unprecedented protest against the removal of what has been termed a “subsidy” on fuel prices by the Nigerian government. The participation of tailors in this national political event suggests that self-employed artisans were prepared to transcend their narrow nonpolitical agenda to promote their interests and demands for decent social and economic conditions. Interviews with participating organization representatives in Lagos indicate the supportive role of alliances with labor unions and organized informal workers at large. We see current global developments in the textile industry as conducive to this outcome.

Cet article examine l’étendue de l’influence des associations de tailleurs sur les lois nationales régissant les problèmes concernant le bien-être de leurs membres, établie par leur alliance au sein d’une organisation parapluie les regroupant avec des travailleurs industriels et des producteurs de l’économie informelle. Le contexte immédiat de cette étude de cas est la révolte urbaine de janvier 2012 au Nigéria à la suite de la suppression de la subvention pour le pétrole. La mise au point concerne les tailleurs dans la ville de Lagos. Des entrevues avec plusieurs organisations de tailleurs offrent des aperçus utiles sur la configuration des relations formelles et informelles dans l’effort d’organisation des producteurs de textiles, alors que la compétition internationale fait pression sur ce qui fut par le passé une organisation syndicale forte, et que la mobilisation internationale soutient la syndicalisation des producteurs informels pour défendre leurs intérêts.

Copyright
COPYRIGHT: © African Studies Association 2013 
References
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African Studies Review
  • ISSN: 0002-0206
  • EISSN: 1555-2462
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