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International Journal of Human Resource & Industrial Research

WOMEN IN URBAN INFORMAL ECONOMY: CASE STUDY OF DOMESTIC WORKERS AND STREET VENDORS IN GURUGRAM

Samaya Chauhan, Dr. Faraz Ahmad

Samaya Chauhan, Amity International School, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi

Dr. Faraz Ahmad, Assistant Professor, Amity School of Economics, Amity University Haryana

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17959274 Page No : 52-71

Published Online : 2025-09-10

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ABSTRACT

This study examines the socio-economic conditions of women informal workers in Gurugram, focusing on domestic workers and street vendors through a mixed-methods case study. The findings reveal that most women are migrants with low education, earning minimal and irregular wages while working long hours without contracts or social protection. Challenges include wage disparity, unsafe conditions, harassment, and limited access to welfare schemes. Despite their crucial contribution to urban households and markets, women’s informal labour remains undervalued and vulnerable. The study calls for targeted policy interventions to ensure legal recognition, social security, gender-sensitive labour protections, and improved economic opportunities.

Keywords: Women Workers, Informal Sector, Gender Inequality

References

Bordoloi, S., Pandey, R., & Farooqui, A. (2020). The informal sector in India: Policy and regulatory challenges. Observer Research Foundation.
Chen, M. A. (2012). The informal economy: Definitions, theories and policies. WIEGO Working Paper No. 1. Harvard Kennedy School.
Deshingkar, P., & Start, D. (2003). Seasonal migration for livelihoods in India: Coping, accumulation and exclusion.ODI Working Paper No. 220. Overseas Development Institute.
Harriss-White, B. (2010). Work and wellbeing in informal economies: The regulative roles of institutions of identity and the state.World Development, 38(2), 170–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2009.10.003
International Labour Organization. (2018). Women and men in the informal economy: A statistical picture (3rd ed.). International Labour Office.
Kabeer, N. (2012). Women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth: Labour markets and enterprise development. International Development Research Centre & DFID.
ILOSTAT. (2023). Informal employment rate by sex (%). International Labour Organization. Retrieved from https://ilostat.ilo.org
National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector. (2007). Report on conditions of work and promotion of livelihoods in the unorganised sector. Government of India.
Neetha, N. (2009). Contours of domestic service: Characteristics, work relations and regulation.The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 52(3), 489–506.
Raveendran, G., & Vanek, J. (2020). Informal workers in India: A statistical profile. Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO).
Roy, A., & Mukhopadhyay, A. (2021). Gender disparities and informal sector employment in India: A regional perspective.Journal of Social and Economic Development, 23(2), 276–293.
Sinha, S., & Meher, R. (2020). Precarity of informal women workers in urban India: An intersectional analysis.Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 27(2), 152–170.
Standing, G. (2011). The precariat: The new dangerous class. Bloomsbury Academic.
Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO). (2018). Informal economy monitoring study: India country report. WIEGO Publications.
Government of India. (2024). Labour Bureau of India: Statistical data on informal employment. Ministry of Labour and Employment. Retrieved from https://labour.gov.in
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). (2021). Fact sheets: India and states/UTs (2019–21). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Observer Research Foundation. (2020). The informal economy in India and women’s employment: Policy perspectives. ORF Working Paper Series.
UN Women. (2018). Turning promises into action: Gender equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

Cite this article as: Samaya C & Faraz A (2025), “women in urban informal economy: case study of domestic workers and street vendors in Gurugram”, International Journal of Human Resource & Industrial Research, Volume 12, Issue 1, 2025, pp 52-71. DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17959274

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References

Bordoloi, S., Pandey, R., & Farooqui, A. (2020). The informal sector in India: Policy and regulatory challenges. Observer Research Foundation.
Chen, M. A. (2012). The informal economy: Definitions, theories and policies. WIEGO Working Paper No. 1. Harvard Kennedy School.
Deshingkar, P., & Start, D. (2003). Seasonal migration for livelihoods in India: Coping, accumulation and exclusion.ODI Working Paper No. 220. Overseas Development Institute.
Harriss-White, B. (2010). Work and wellbeing in informal economies: The regulative roles of institutions of identity and the state.World Development, 38(2), 170–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2009.10.003
International Labour Organization. (2018). Women and men in the informal economy: A statistical picture (3rd ed.). International Labour Office.
Kabeer, N. (2012). Women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth: Labour markets and enterprise development. International Development Research Centre & DFID.
ILOSTAT. (2023). Informal employment rate by sex (%). International Labour Organization. Retrieved from https://ilostat.ilo.org
National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector. (2007). Report on conditions of work and promotion of livelihoods in the unorganised sector. Government of India.
Neetha, N. (2009). Contours of domestic service: Characteristics, work relations and regulation.The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 52(3), 489–506.
Raveendran, G., & Vanek, J. (2020). Informal workers in India: A statistical profile. Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO).
Roy, A., & Mukhopadhyay, A. (2021). Gender disparities and informal sector employment in India: A regional perspective.Journal of Social and Economic Development, 23(2), 276–293.
Sinha, S., & Meher, R. (2020). Precarity of informal women workers in urban India: An intersectional analysis.Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 27(2), 152–170.
Standing, G. (2011). The precariat: The new dangerous class. Bloomsbury Academic.
Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO). (2018). Informal economy monitoring study: India country report. WIEGO Publications.
Government of India. (2024). Labour Bureau of India: Statistical data on informal employment. Ministry of Labour and Employment. Retrieved from https://labour.gov.in
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). (2021). Fact sheets: India and states/UTs (2019–21). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Observer Research Foundation. (2020). The informal economy in India and women’s employment: Policy perspectives. ORF Working Paper Series.
UN Women. (2018). Turning promises into action: Gender equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

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