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, Uganda, NigeriaMay 11, 2026 · Global Fairness Initiative
ILI Factsheet: 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.
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Grounding research and action in workers' lived experience.
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Informal economy
Especially where formal protections are weakest.
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Pairing evidence with applied tools and collaboration.
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A bridge between worker organizations, civil society, and public and private institutions.
- Evidence on the realities of informal work
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July 6, 2026 · Julia Tucker
More Than a Label: How GoodWeave is Changing the Fabric of Labor Rights
Carpet weaving is skilled, intricate, and physically demanding work. But exploitative practices and poor working conditions make it dangerous, the realities of which remain largely invisible to consumers around the world. GoodWeave International was founded to address this gap.
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May 11, 2026Global 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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New Forms of Work, Old Forms of Exploitation: An Analysis of Tunisia's Platform and Informal Economies
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
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