ILO report highlights unions as central force in ending informal work

Titled “Innovative Approaches Taken by Workers’ Organizations to Drive Formalization,” the report puts worker-led action at the center of the solution to drive formalization and prevent the informalization of formal jobs.

Unveiled just days before the 113th International Labour Conference—and a decade after ILO Recommendation No. 204 on formalizing the informal economy—the report makes a clear demand: unions must be recognized as key drivers of progress on formalization and prevention of informality.

In her remarks, ACTRAV Director Maria Helena André stressed three core messages:

• Trade unions are indispensable to ending informality, using creative strategies to organize workers in the informal economy and push for social protection and decent wages.
• Worker organizing, servicing and representing are more vital than ever, with unions leading legal wins, creating cooperatives, and fighting back against systemic exploitation.
• Collective action is the path forward, requiring global unity and coherent policies to secure rights and dignity for all workers.

“Without unions—without worker-led action—there can be no justice, no formalisation, and no future for decent work,” André stated. “This report is a call to action. A tool to build alliances, support each other, and demand a better future for workers.”

The report highlights how over 60% of the global workforce remains trapped in informal work—unprotected by law, denied benefits, and often stuck in cycles of poverty. Women, youth, and migrants bear the brunt of this reality.

By showcasing real-world union initiatives and calling for stronger policy support, the report aims to ignite momentum and solidarity ahead of the ILO’s upcoming conference debates on formalization.

Media Contact:
Mamadou Kaba SOUARE
Head of Communications and Publications, ILO ACTRAV