1. SASPEN and FES
International Conference
16-17 September 2013
Birchwood Hotel Johannesburg
Press Release
Upcoming International Conference titled:
“Social Protection for Those Working Informally
Social & Income (In)Security in the Informal Economy”
About the organisers
The Southern African Social Protection Experts Network (SASPEN) is a not-for-profit loose alliance of
stakeholders, scholars and consultants who engage with social protection in the SADC region with a
particular focus on social security. It promotes the fostering, expansion and improvement of social
protection in SADC countries. It further engages in dissemination and sensitisation by providing platforms
for exchange regarding social protection programmes, frameworks, research and consultancies and by
creating network structures to link participants with each other and to relevant institutions.
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) is a political foundation from Germany with a longstanding engagement in
the Southern African Region to promote democracy and social justice.
SASPEN, in conjunction with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, has organised a conference in Johannesburg at
Birchwood Hotel on 16-17 September on the topic of social protection for informal workers.
Find SASPEN at www.saspen.org
www.facebook.com/SASPEN.ORG
www.linkedin.com/company/saspen
Follow SASPEN on twitter @SASPENNEWS
Participate in the network online at www.saspen.org/network
Find Friedrich Ebert Stiftung at www.fes-zambia.org and www.fes-southernafrica.org
Reason for Conference
According to a recent study commissioned by the European Commission on social protection in sub-Saharan
Africa, completed under the leadership of Professor Marius Olivier, a member of the SASPEN steering
committee, director of the Institute for Social Law and Policy and extraordinary professor in the Faculty of Law,
Northwest University (Potchefstroom), “Until recently, attempts to widen the scope of social security
coverage to include those who work informally and/or outside the confines of the traditional employer-
employee relationship, have largely been unsatisfactory. Little attempt has been made to accommodate
the specific context of informal and self-employed workers … And yet, there are increasingly indications that
tailor-made solutions are being developed and tested in a range of developing countries and environments.
These experiences are to be found in particular in middle-income countries, although some attempts are also
made to implement certain initiatives in low-income SSA [sub-Saharan African] countries.”

2. High Level Contributions by AU, ILO, UNECA, SADC, WIEGO, ISLP & APSP
The conference brings together high level representatives of international organisations and senior experts and
scholars from the SADC region.
The AU Commissioner for Social Affairs is represented by the Director, Ambassador Olawale I.
Maiyegun, who will present on the AU SPIREWORK Framework – Social Protection Plan for the Informal
Economy and Rural Workers 2011-2015.
Core areas of concern, i.e. gender-sensitive social protection health coverage, and maternity, are
respectively addressed by the UN Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA, Chief Employment and Social
Protection Officer, Dr Rose Aderolili, and the International Labour Organisation, ILO, Chief Technical
Advisor Ms Bodhi Pieris.
These presentations are complemented by presentations of experts from eleven different SADC countries,
including three overview presentations by Prof Frances Lund of the University KwaZulu-Natal and Activist of
WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment Globalising and Organising), Prof Marius Olivier of North-West
University Potchefstroom & Institute for Social Law and Policy (ISLP) and Dr Tavengwa Nhongo of the
African Platform for Social Protection (APSP). These presentations among others deal with the conceptual
framework and extension modalities, with a particular focus on Africa and the SADC region.
Prof Frances Lund of Uni KwaZulu-Natal and long-standing activist of the international network WIEGO
pinpoints why exactly it is so relevant to tackle the issue of social protection for informal workers: “Most
workers in sub-Saharan Africa are in the informal sector. Millions of these people work hard all their lives
but remain poor. Better social protection, such as health services and child care, can help improve their
financial security, and their productivity.”
Conference Covers a Range of Social Protection Topics for Informal Workers
Other presentations cover a range of topics under the broad themes of health, maternity and migration;
informal social security; and informal work, unemployment and social protection. The topics so addressed, in
addition to those mentioned above, include maternity protection for informal workers, occupational health
schemes for informal workers, social protection for informal cross-border traders, social protection for rural and
farm workers, informal and formal social protection, as well as employment guarantee schemes, public works
programmes and unemployment insurance viewed from a social protection and social citizenship perspective.
Also, colleagues from five SADC countries will present on social protection for informal workers in their
respective countries. Please see the attached programme for further details.
Elaborates Dr Marianne Ulriksen, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Social Development Africa at the
University of Johannesburg and member of the SASPEN Steering Committee: “I am very excited about this
conference. First of all, participants will consider the essential issue of how to improve social protection for
the vast majority of the working age population in Southern Africa that currently are without any income
security at times when they are unable to work. Second, at this event we will launch SASPEN – a network
that brings together anyone interested in promoting social protection in the region. There is so much that
scholars, practitioners and activists in different countries can learn from each other and we believe that
SASPEN can promote such knowledge exchange both through conferences and the website-based network
that has been established. I would also like to mention that all this would not have been possible without the
generous funding and substantial administrative support and encouragement from Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.”

3. Conference Brings together the Entire Region
The conference brings together experts and stakeholders from various countries, including Botswana,
Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Explains conference coordinator Mr Daniel Kumitz: “We look forward to this conference because across the
region the question of how to deliver social protection to those outside formal employment is increasingly
receiving the attention it deserves. In Zambia for example, over 80% of workers are working informally and are
thus automatically excluded from the standard types of social security benefits. Over 75 participants have
confirmed attendance at the conference, and we are optimistic that the conference deliberations will
significantly contribute to the regional and continental efforts to extend social protection coverage to informal
workers. For the same reason there could be no better occasion to launch SASPEN. SASPEN seeks to
provide a platform for all social protection experts, stakeholders and activists throughout the Southern
African region. Poverty levels remain painfully high in our countries and no effort must be spared to deliver
social protection to all.”
The New Network SASPEN will be Officially Launched
The conference serves as occasion to launch the new Southern African Social Protection Experts
Network, SASPEN. The launch will take place on Monday, September 16th
, after the presentations and
discussion at 18:30. The music group Mora (“son”) will perform Loeto (“journey”), a musical and poetry
reflection on Social Protection. The guest of honour is Dr Tavengwa Nhongo, the Director of the African
Platform for Social Protection (APSP), who will officially launch the network.
Media Contact
Press and Media are cordially invited to the conference proceedings and to the launch of SASPEN.
Please contact Mr Daniel Kumitz, SASPEN Coordinator and FES Regional Programme Manager,
info@saspen.org or daniel.kumitz@fes-zambia.org for any inquiries regarding the conference or the network.
Please contact Ms Tshegofatso Monnana, Conference Secretariat, to register for the conference and/or the
launch and to inquire about the logistics at 011 833 0161 and 083 572 8309.
Please find attached
Conference Concept
Conference Programme
Programme of Official Launch of SASPEN

4. SASPEN and FES
International Conference
16-17 September 2013
Birchwood Hotel Johannesburg
Social Protection for Those Working Informally
Social & Income (In)Security in the Informal Economy
Conference Concept
Employment and economic activity across southern Africa – as elsewhere – is characterised by increasingly
high levels of informality. Despite the fact that concepts such as informality and the informal economy are
complex and clear agreed-upon definitions are lacking, even the World Bank acknowledges that informal work
must be considered a normal labour market activity and that production in the informal economy can be
developmental. However, at the same time, the high prevalence of informal employment and production
means that large parts of the global workforce contributing to the global economy remain outside the protection
and regulation of the state. Hence, while social protection for the old, young, disabled and destitute is
increasingly promoted in the SADC region (though to varying degrees), there is much less focus on the
possibilities of extending social protection to the working age population, particularly those working informally
and/or in the informal economy. Thus, though social protection can take a variety of forms, generally including
both social insurance schemes and social assistance programmes, many working age people have limited
means of ensuring adequate protection in times of sickness, accident, unemployment, maternity and old age.
The two overarching and competing developmental frameworks – the neo-liberal model versus the social rights
approaches to development – have difficulty conceptualising social protection for those active in the informal
economy. Broadly speaking, the neo-liberal model to development envisages employment creation driven by
the private sector with a facilitating role for the state. In this model it is often assumed that work is available and
that the unemployed are so voluntarily. Hence, working-age citizens are assumed to be able to sustain a living
and expected to save for periods of vulnerability through contributory social insurance schemes. Non-
contributory social assistance, on the other hand, is regarded as a last resort for the absolute needy. Unlike the
neo-liberal models, the social rights approaches envisage a much stronger role of the state. Social protection
policies are seen as an important complement to economic policies, social insurance schemes are promoted
and regulated by the state, and social benefits provided as a right are advocated to ensure effective alleviation
and prevention of poverty and to provide supporting developmental roles.
Both approaches carry unrealistic assumptions that are closely tied to a view of the economy as formally
interrelated to the state. The neo-liberal models assume that there are enough jobs to be found, while in
many developing countries that is hardly the case – particularly not if jobs are also advocated to provide
decent wages and social insurance provision. Also, the recent promising growth rates in the region have
largely been driven by capital-intensive growth with little to nil labour effects. The social rights approaches
assume the guidance of a strong, decisive and fair state that has sufficient resources to push broad social
protection and create sufficient jobs though employment initiatives. However, in reality, job creation initiatives
are inadequate and there is little social protection for those working informally, with usually only those in well-
paid formal jobs provided for. Social assistance schemes tend to target the non-working population, whereas
the inclusion of informal economy workers (employed or self-employed) in social insurance systems is often
not feasible and has had little effect to date. Universal and informal worker-dedicated options have to some

5. extent rendered important results, despite numerous challenges. It is the formal registration of enterprises and
their employees that facilitates mandatory contributory schemes. Self-targeted (voluntary) contribution
enrolment is a possible answer to this, but so far has not proven to yield significant levels of coverage
extensions. A related issue is the inability to effectively monitor and control informal work arrangements, thus
impeding clear definitions of work and life situations and corresponding rights and duties. It should also be
noted that the informal economy often coincides with poverty, thus compounding the precariousness of
informal work with lack of means to fulfil one’s social, economic and political rights.
Thus, in contexts of substantial informality, formal social protection schemes for working-age populations
currently fall short. In the SADC region and elsewhere in the developing world there are several interesting
and significant initiatives that seek to address social insecurity for those working informally. It is therefore
important to consider such initiatives, where and how they fall short, as well as ways to further extend the
requirements of social protection for the working age populations. As a way to further our knowledge on the
current situation, challenges and possible lessons learned in SADC, this conference will present papers
that illuminate the extent of economic informality and how it is linked (or not), or could be linked, to formal
and informal social protection systems. It will also consider a range of modalities or interventions employed
to extend coverage to those who work informally. Focus will be on the working age population who work
informally and their means of income and social security. Conference papers will include a mix of
theoretical/topical papers covering these issues as well as country studies from the SADC region.
The conference seeks to engage stakeholders from the informal economy, civil society, trade unions, political
bodies, governments, and academia. Providing social protection to informal economy workers is not just a
technical problem, but also a political and policy issue involving a diversity of stakeholders with different interests
and agendas. As the developmental frameworks (for contributory schemes or arrangements) assume formal
working relations and base their social protection schemes on such, they also tend to opt for formalisation of
informal enterprises rather than tailor-made programmes to suit the informal economy. In opposition to this
informal economy organisations such as Streetnet and WIEGO point to the normality of informal employment and
insist that pathways for social security of the informally employed need to be developed rather than further
marginalising and illegalising informal work. In light of all this, it is the conference's aim to:
1. bring together experts for exchange and dissemination regarding analysis of informal employment
and social protection for those working informally
2. discuss possible pathways and frameworks for providing social protection to those working informally
3. provide a platform to debate political interests and stakes in the possible relationships between
social security and social protection arrangements and informal employment.

6. SASPEN and FES
International Conference
16-17 September 2013
Birchwood Hotel Johannesburg
Social Protection for Those Working Informally
Social & Income (In)Security in the Informal Economy
Conference Programme
Sunday, 15 September 2013
VENUE: BIRCHWOOD HOTEL “SILVERLEAF”
17:00 – 18:00 Arrival and Registration
18:00 – 20:30 SASPEN Open Networking Session with Dinner
VENUE: BIRCHWOOD HOTEL “SILVERLEAF”
Monday, 16 September 2013
VENUE: BIRCHWOOD HOTEL CONFERENCE ROOM “CAPE TOWN”
8:00 – 8:30 Arrival and Registration
I. SESSION: Opening Chair: Prof Leila Patel
Centre for Social Development
Africa (CSDA), University of
Johannesburg
8:30 – 9:00 Welcome Remarks
SASPEN Steering Committee Ms Isobel Frye (SPII Johannesburg)
FES Zambia Resident Director Mr Helmut Elischer
9:00 – 10:00 Keynote Address by the Guest of Honour:
SPIREWORK – Social Protection Plan for the
Informal Economy and Rural Workers 2011-2015
AU Director of Social Affairs
Amb. Dr Olawale I. Maiyegun
on behalf of the AU Commissioner for
Social Affairs
H.E. Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko
10:00 – 10:30 Discussion
10:30 – 11:00 Tea Break

7. II. SESSION: Concepts, Frameworks and Policies Chair: Mr Victor Chikalanga
Director Ministry of Labour and
Social Security Zambia
11:00 – 11:30 Framing Social Protection for Informal Workers:
Issues, Target Groups, Problem Areas, and
Promising Pathways
Prof Frances Lund
Women in Informal Employment:
Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)
University KwaZulu-Natal
11:30 – 12:00 Discussion
12:00 – 12:30 Extending Social Protection to Informal Workers:
Conceptual Framework, Regional Extension
Modalities and Comparative Developments
Prof Marius Olivier
Institute for Social Law and Policy (ISLP)
North-West University Potcheftsroom
12:30 – 13:00 Discussion
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
III. SESSION: Continental and Regional Trends Chair: Prof Letlhokwa George Mpedi
Centre for International and
Comparative Labour and Social
Security Law (CICLASS),
University of Johannesburg
14:00 – 14:20 Social Protection and Informal Workers in Africa Dr Tavengwa Nhongo
Director African Platform for Social
Protection (APSP)
14:20 – 14:40 Social Protection for Informal Cross-Border Traders Dr Sally Peberdy
Gauteng Region City Observatory (GRCO)
14:40 – 15:00 Discussion
15:00 – 15:30 Tea Break
IV. SESSION: Health, Maternity and Migration Chair: Prof Dolly Ntseane
University of Botswana
15:30 – 15:50 Gender Sensitive Social Protection and Universal
Health Coverage for Informal Workers
Dr Rose Aderolili
Chief Employment and Social Protection
UN Economic Commission for Africa
15:50 – 16:10 Maternity Protection for Informal Workers Ms Bodhi Pieris
Chief Technical Adviser ILO Pretoria
16:10 – 16:30 Occupational Health Schemes for Informal Workers
in Ghana, Tanzania, Brazil, Peru and India
Prof Frances Lund
Women in Informal Employment:
Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)
University KwaZulu-Natal
16:30 – 17:00 Discussion
18:30 – 21:30 Reception and Official Launch of SASPEN
VENUE: BIRCHWOOD HOTEL “KING SHAKA”
(see separate programme for details)

8. Tuesday, 17 September 2013
VENUE: BIRCHWOOD HOTEL CONFERENCE ROOM “CAPE TOWN”
V. SESSION: Informal Social Security Chair: Prof Marius Olivier
Institute for Social Law and
Policy (ISLP) & North-West
University Potcheftsroom
8:00 – 8:20 Informal Social Security Prof Edwin Kaseke
University of the Witwatersrand
8:20 – 8:40 Social Protection for Rural and Farm Workers:
The case in Zimbabwe
Ms Mildred Mushunje
FAO Zimbabwe
8:40 – 9:00 Informal and Formal Social Protection Mr Gift Dafulyea
University of Venda
9:00 – 9:30 Discussion
VI. SESSION: Informal Work, Unemployment and Social Protection Chair: Prof Ngeyi Ruth Kanyongolo
University of Malawi
9:30 – 9:50 Employment Guarantee Schemes and Public Works
Programmes as Social Protection Measure Affecting
Informal Economy Workers
Prof Avinash Govindjee
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Port Elizabeth
Prof Marius Olivier
Institute for Social Law and Policy (ISLP)
North-West University Potcheftsroom
9:50 – 10:10 Social Citizenship and Informal Workers -
Contrasting the Principles of Unemployment
Insurance and Public Works Programmes
Dr Marianne Ulriksen
Centre for Social Development Africa
(CSDA), University of Johannesburg
10:10 – 10:30 Discussion
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break
VII. SESSION: Country Analyses Chair: Mr Taku Fundira
Studies in Poverty and
Inequality Institute SPII
11:00 – 11:20 Social Protection and Informal Workers in
Zimbabwe
Dr Henry Chikova
National Social Security Authority Zimbabwe
11:20 – 11:40 Social Protection and Informal Workers in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
Mr Jean Bosco Wasso Kazamwali
Plateforme Congolaise pour la
Protection Sociale
Mr Joseph Kitungano Walumona
CADDHOM Democratic Republic of Congo
11:40 – 12:00 Social Protection and Informal Workers in Malawi Mr Wezi Galera Shaba
University Livingstonia (Malawi)
12:00 – 12:20 Social Protection and Informal Workers in Tanzania Dr Tulia Ackson
University Dar-Es-Salaam
Dr Juliana Masabo
University Dar-Es-Salaam
12:20 – 12:40 Social Protection and Informal Workers in Mauritius Mr Fatadin Fatadin
Commissioner Social Security Mauritius
12:40 – 13:00 Discussion

9. 13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
VIII. SESSION: Conference Outcomes and Policy Implications Chair: Prof Frances Lund
Women in Informal
Employment: Globalizing and
Organizing (WIEGO)
University KwaZulu-Natal
14:00 – 14:20 Overview of Case Studies in Comparative
Perspective
Prof Marius Olivier
Institute for Social Law and Policy (ISLP)
North-West University Potcheftsroom
Dr Marianne Ulriksen
Centre for Social Development Africa
(CSDA), University of Johannesburg
14:20 – 15:00 Moderated Plenary Discussion
15:00 – 15:30 Tea Break
IX. SESSION: The Way Forward Chair: Prof Edwin Kaseke
University of the Witwatersrand
15:30 – 16:15 Panel Discussion:
Politics and Economics of Informal Employment: Cui
Bono? Informal is Normal vs. Formalise the Informal.
What is the Best Way to Provide Social Protection?
Mrs Gladys Mponda
MUFIS Malawi & Streetnet International
Mr Necodimus Chipfupa
Regional Director HelpAge International
Dr Tavengwa Nhongo
African Platform for Social Protection APSP
Mr David Keendjele
Social Security Commission Namibia
Prof Marius Olivier
Institute for Social Law and Policy (ISLP)
North-West University Potcheftsroom
16:15 Vote of Thanks, Closing Remarks and Farewell
16:30 End of Conference
Conference Coordinator: Mr Daniel Kumitz, daniel.kumitz@fes-zambia.org, +260-97 43 70 501
Conference Rapporteur: Mr Bitso Paul Bitso
Conference Secretariat: Ms Tshegofatso Monnana Tel: +27-(0)83 572 8309
Ms Rirhandzo Khoza

10. September 16, 2013
Birchwood Hotel, King Shaka Room
Official Launch of the Network
Programme
18:30 Music/Poetry Performance LOETO (“journey”) Part 1 Music Group MORA (“son”)
18:45 Welcome Remarks Mr Victor Chikalanga
SASPEN Steering
Committee
18:50 What is SASPEN and what does it aspire to do? Dr Marianne Ulriksen
SASPEN Steering
Committee
18:55 Friedrich Ebert Stiftung’s Commitment to SASPEN Mr Helmut Elischer
FES Director Zambia
19:00 Dinner
19:45 Music/Poetry Performance LOETO (“journey”) Part 2 Music Group MORA (“son”)
20:00 The Vision of Social Protection for All in Africa Dr Tavengwa Nhongo
Director APSP
20:15 Official Launch of SASPEN
by Guest of Honour
Dr Tavengwa Nhongo
Director APSP
20:20 Efforts to Link Social Protection Experts and
Stakeholders in the Region: the Long Road to
SASPEN
Prof Marius Olivier
SASPEN Steering
Committee
20:30 Music/Poetry Performance LOETO (“journey”) Part 3 Music Group MORA (“son”)
20:45 Reception and Get-Together DJ Fortune Johannesburg
21:30 End of Programme
www.saspen.org