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Accessing maternity protection: Structural barriers in the informal economy in sub-Saharan Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2025

Zitha Mokomane Open the ORCID record for Zitha Mokomane [Opens in a new window] ,
Laurel Grzesik-Mourad ,
Aleta Sprague  and
Jody Heymann
Zitha Mokomane*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Laurel Grzesik-Mourad
Affiliation:
WORLD Policy Analysis Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
Aleta Sprague
Affiliation:
WORLD Policy Analysis Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
Jody Heymann
Affiliation:
WORLD Policy Analysis Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
*
Corresponding author: Zitha Mokomane; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Notwithstanding their increased participation in the labour market, women across the world continue to bear family care responsibilities disproportionately, and, consequently, often find it difficult to balance effectively their dual roles as workers and caregivers. This is particularly the case for women working in the informal economy. Too often they have limited or no access to maternity protection. This situation is a potential barrier to the achievement of, among others, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5 and 8, specifically target 5.c which calls for the adoption and strengthening of policies and legislation to promote gender equality as well as targets 8.5 (achievement of full and productive employment and decent work for all) and 8.8 (protection of labour rights and promotion of secure working environments for all workers, including those in precarious employment). Thus, as this Themed Collection posits, it is crucial to get a deeper understanding of obstacles to gender equality in the labour market, and the extent to which these are effectively addressed. This paper draws largely on qualitative data from recent (2022) case studies of three countries in sub-Saharan Africa—the region with the highest proportion of women working in this economy— in order to highlight some of the structural barriers to maternity protection for women in the informal economy. Particular focus is on legislative and institutional frameworks, workers’ union membership, and the financing of maternity protection. Strategic recommendations for achieving both gender equality and decent work through improved access to maternity protection conclude the paper.

Keywords

Gender equalityinstitutional frameworklegislative frameworksocial protectionunionisation
Type
Original Article
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , First View , pp. 1 - 20
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The University of New South Wales

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