Summary

The COVID-19 crisis and its economic and social impacts are particularly harsh for workers in the informal economy and their families. Almost 1.6 billion informal workers are affected by the lockdown and containment measures and/or are working in the hardest-hit sectors.

This briefs presents:

• the multiple impacts of the COVID-19 crisis for informal economy workers;
• the immediate policy responses taken by countries to protect informal economy workers;
• the lessons for the COVID-19 response and beyond.