A just, equitable future of work begins with the voice of workers.
We provide a knowledge and action hub dedicated to advancing the rights, lives, and livelihoods of workers in the informal economy.
Kenya, UgandaMay 11, 2026 · Global Fairness Initiative
Informality, Accountability, and Labor Rights for Data Workers in East Africa
Although artificial intelligence (AI) and social media platforms are often thought of as amorphous, autonomous technologies, they require a vast unseen human labor force to be produced and operated. Content moderators, who determine if user-generated content meets community guidelines, and data annotators, who train AI models by identifying objects, patterns, and audio, make this tech possible. Data worker vulnerabilities parallel those of workers in the informal economy, where workers have temporary or no work contracts and lack access to social security benefits. This informality undermines data workers’ agency in global supply chains and leads to lower wages, poor working conditions, and minimal social protections. Moreover, the data work outsourcing system is embedded in a broader system of “digital colonialism,” in which value flows out of the Global South while decision-making power remains with actors in the Global North, perpetuating a vicious cycle of exploitation.
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We amplify worker voices.
The Global Fairness Initiative's Inclusive Labor Institute (ILI) is a worker-centered hub focused on improving the nature of work for the more than two billion workers in the global informal economy. We are a bridge between worker organizations, civil society, and public and private institutions.
Lens
Worker-centered
Grounding research and action in workers' lived experience.
Focus
Informal economy
Especially where formal protections are weakest.
Approach
Knowledge & action
Pairing evidence with applied tools and collaboration.
Global Reach
A bridge between worker organizations, civil society, and public and private institutions.
- Evidence on the realities of informal work
- Tools and learning offers for policy and practice
- Spaces for dialogue with decision-makers
Women & WorkMay 7, 2026 · Meriam
"I Do Everything": A Day in the Life of Meriam
A day in the life of Meriam, 53, looks like this: wake up at 6 am, get dressed, and walk over to the main house to begin work. Clean the entire house, do the laundry, iron any clothes for her employers or their kids, cook all the meals, feed the dogs, let them out, and finish up around 7 pm. Repeat, Monday through Friday.
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Explore our knowledge products, learning opportunities, and community spaces.
Knowledge Hub
Research, briefs, and visualizations on informal work and worker voice to inform policy and programming.
- Worker-led studies and briefs
- Country and sector snapshots
- Visual tools to support decision-making
Worker Stories
In workers' own words
Community Voices that bring the realities of workers in the informal economy to life.
Knowledge Hub
Latest research & publications
Worker-led studies, briefs, and data from across the informal economy.
April 1, 2026Global Fairness Initiative
New Forms of Work, Old Forms of Exploitation: An Analysis of Tunisia's Platform and Informal Economies
Tunisia, like the majority of developing countries, is experiencing an expansion of informality, both in the number of people employed and in terms of the number of informal sectors. The platform economy is one of these areas of expansion in the informal economy. Informal work is generally characterized by a lack of social protection; undefined workplaces; indecent working conditions; low-skill work; irregular incomes; and difficult access to finance, training, and government benefits. Despite sharing high rates of informality as characterized by lack of formal registration, the platform economy may not necessarily have many other characteristics in common with the traditional informal economy. Given its relative novelty, work in the sector may present new challenges in terms of rights and protections but also may provide new opportunities in terms of employment and income. To address these possibilities, our study aims to better understand the social and economic situation of informal workers in the platform economy.
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ILI Study: Bridging Policy and Practice: Improving Working Conditions and Advancing Formalization for Informal Workers in Nairobi and Kiambu
Towards Climate and Extreme Heat Resilience: Lessons from African and Asian Communities
Women, Work, and the Informal Economy in Uganda: What’s Holding Businesses Back?
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