Economic activities by women positively impact a country’s economy, often through their employment in various sectors. In developing countries, women face barriers to formal employment, such as illiteracy and poverty, usually leading them to the informal sector. Globally, informal employment is higher for men (63%) than women (58.1%), but in India, a notable 90% of women work informally compared to 87.7% of men (ILO, 2018). This sector provides flexibility, allowing women to balance work with family responsibilities. However, much of their work remains invisible and low-paid, often without social security, such as domestic work or home-based jobs (Chen, 2016). Additionally, the degree of marginalization varies among women based on caste or religious group, revealing deeper inequalities even within the broader context of women’s economic participation (Neetha, 2014).

Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) is a global network dedicated to securing livelihoods for the working poor, particularly women, in the informal economy. We believe that all workers deserve equal economic opportunities and rights. WIEGO promotes change by empowering informal worker organizations, expanding the understanding of the informal economy, and influencing policies at local, national, and international levels. Since 1997, the WIEGO network has been working to improve the status of the working poor, especially women. WIEGO is a research-based network focused on the study of informal workers, both locally and globally. Its mission involves collecting the life stories of these workers to amplify their voices and address the question: “What do poor women want?” Through this approach, WIEGO gathers information about the livelihood status of informal women workers and organizes global conferences to highlight their deprivation of basic needs. The organization aims to contribute to societal improvements in their living conditions. Additionally, the International Labour Organization (ILO) recognizes the importance of the research activities conducted by WIEGO. This gives us hope for better prospects for informal women workers and their livelihoods.