UN Report on Freedom of Association in Informal Economy 

In late June, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association released a new report – “Advancing the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and of association of workers in the informal economy.” 

In May 2023, LI and SC experts contributed to this report during the regional consultations for the Europe and Central Asia region organized by the ILAW (International Lawyers Assisting Workers) Network and sent their written input about the situation in Ukraine. 

LI and SC are pleased to know that Ukraine`s experience and war-related challenges have been addressed in the report.  In particular, the report covers some positive examples of informal workers organizing in Ukraine, such as the Free Trade Union of Entrepreneurs (an example of a street vendors` union) and United Home Staff (a domestic workers association). 

Moreover, the UN Special Rapporteur stresses that amid the war and armed conflicts, the informal economy often grows quickly and dramatically as potential for regularized work diminishes. Conflict also often leads to migration flows, underscoring the need to ensure that migrants fully enjoy their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. In this context, the Special Rapporteur recalls and would like to underscore the importance of the points made in ILO Recommendation 205, the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation.