DEBRE BERHAN UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

Challenges Women Street Vendors Face in the Informal Sector: The

Case of Selected informants from Debre Berhan Town, 07 Kebele.

Prepared by: -
1. Aemere Hayamnot
2. Birkinesh Mersha
3. Eyerus Mulugeta
4. Fantu Tadesse
5. Habtamu Abera
6. Manyakilew Tsegaye
7. Mulugeta Stot
8. Tigist Geta

Advisor: - Lelissa E.

A Senior Essay Submitted to College of Social Science and Humanities

Department of Sociology for Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Bachelor Degree
in Sociology

Approved by: -

Department Head___________________________Signature_______________Date________

Advisor __________________________Signature______________Date______________

DEBRE BERHAN

ETHIOPIA

June, 2017
 Table of Content

Title Page

Chapter one

1. Introduction1
1.1. Background of the study1
1.2. Statement of the Problem t3
1.3. Objective of the study5
1.3.1. General objective5
1.3.2. Specific objective5
1.4. Research question5
1.5. Scope of the study6
1.6. Significance of the study6

Chapter two

2. Review literature7
2.1. Definition of informal sector7
2.2. General characteristics of informal sector8
2.3. Characteristics of the people engaged in the informal sector
2.4. Characteristics of the activity in the informal sector
2.5. Specific characteristics of informal traders or street vendors
2.5.1. Location
2.5.2. structure
2.6. Street vendors
2.7. Obstacles and constraints and risks
2.8. Negative impact of informal sector particularly in the street vendors
2.9. Health status of street vendors
Chapter three

3. Research methodology
3.1. Study design
3.2. Study area
3.3. Procedures of study participant selection
3.4. Data collection procedures
3.4.1. Interview
3.4.2. Informal interview
3.4.3. Observation……………………………………………………………………..
3.4.4. Focus group discussion…………………………………………………………
3.4.5. Document review……………………………………………………………….
3.5. Data collection technique
3.6. Participants of the study
3.7. Procedures of data analysis
3.8. Ethical consideration
3.9. Triangulation of the study………………………………………………………………
3.10. Limitation of the study……………………………………………………………...
3.11. Organization of the paper…………………………………………………………...

Chapter four

4. Finding of the study

Chapter five

5. Conclusion and recommendation

5.1. Conclusion
5.2. Recommendation

Reference

Appendix
Acknowledgement

Frist and foremost we would like to thank God for helping us complete this senior essay and for
the successful completion of our Bachelor degree in general. Second, we would like to express
our deep and heartfelt thanks to our advisor Lelissa Ensermu for his advice and constructive
comments, and reviewing the various draft of this paper throughout the research writing. Next
we would like to thank the participants of this study. Without their cooperation the study would
not have been possible.
 Abstract

This study focuses on the challenges women face while vending on the streets of Debre Berhan.
In line with the objectives of the study we used qualitative research method and case study in
order to collect a detail information from the participants. The data collection comprised both
primary and secondary sources. In primary source of data, interview, focus group discussion and
observation was used whereas secondary source included books, articles and documents from the
internet. The data collection technique was also recorder and note books presented in it. The
procedure of participant selection was purposive technique. Our finding of the study was
analyzed through thematically or classified by four major themes such as economic problem,
socio-cultural problem, health problem and environmental problem related to women in the
street vendor. However, our finding of the study was analyzed began with by the background of
the participants. Finally, our finding of the study putted shortly in the conclusion part.
Acronyms

 CSA- Central Statistics Agency

 CBD- Central Business District
 CASE- Community Agency for Social Enquiry
 ESSET- Ecumenical Service for Social Economic Transformation
 GDP- Gross Domestic Product
 ICLS- International Conference of Labor Statisticians
 ILO- International Labor Organization
 SEWU- The Self Employed Women Union
 Chapter one

Introduction

This chapter addresses the introductory part of the research. It basically includes background of
the study, statement of the problem, general and specific objectives, research questions,
significance of the study, and scope of the study. Our study would be concerned on the
challenges of women in the informal sector.

The term informal sector has gained wide recognition in recent years, and there is still no
consensus in its definition. The concept of informal sector was first put on the development
agenda by the International Labor Organization in 1970’s. It initially referred to survival and
other unreported activities in peripheral segments of the economy (ILO 2002). Over the years, a
broader understanding of informality the entry for the new enterprises, reliance on indigenous
resources, family ownership of enterprises, small scale of operations and low productivity, labor
intensive and adapted technology, reliance of workers on informal sources of education and
skills, unregulated and competitive markets and lack of government support (Matthias P.
2011:95).

The first Indian national commission on labor (1966-69) defined informal sector work force as
those workers who have not been able to organize themselves in pursuit of their common interest
due to certain constraints like casual nature of employment, ignorance and illiteracy, small and
scattered size of establishment. In the compilation of National Accounts, the term informal is
used to represent the residual enterprises which are not included in the formal sector
(Kathmandu, 2009).

Informal sector in Ghana is made up proprietary of micro and small scaled enterprises. It consists
of producers, wholesalers, retails and consumers. There are also intermediary service providers
along the value chain such as, suppliers of raw materials to manufacturers on contractual basis.
Informal sector workers are largely self-employed persons such as farmers, traders, food
processors, artisans and craft workers to mention but a few. The sector consists of varied
activities. In rural Ghana, informal sector work mainly involves agriculture (78%), (GSS, 2008).
The central statistics agency of Ethiopia (1997) include in its definition of informal sectors which
are mainly engaged in market production, sectors which are not registered companies or
cooperatives, sectors which have less than 10 people engaged in and sectors which have no
license (Ralf, 2001).

There is data unobtainability to state the exact number of women engaged in informal sector
(parallel trading) in Ethiopia, different research report discloses that large number of women in a
way that was not expected and themselves in the informal sector. For instance, central statistics
agency reported, 52% (CSA, 1994), 59.99% (CSA, 2003) and 61 % (CSA, 2011) of women were
engaged in the informal sector. The number of women engaging in the informal sector is
increasing particularly because of alarming rate of migration from rural to urban areas. They
search work in the formal sector but most of them find themselves jobless and they joint the
informal sector to secure employment.

According to CSA (2006) report, self-employment accounts for over 80% whereas the rest
belong to wage employment in the informal sector. Self-employment sector such as street
vending retile trade and local drinks are activities in which an enormous number of women are
engaged to help themselves and sustain their life from the suffers of poverty (Hadis Woldie;
2015).

Street vender is a person who offers goods or service for sale to the public without having a
permanently built structure but with a temporary static structure or mobile stall (or head-load).
Street vender could be stationery and occupy space on the pavements or other public/private
areas, or could be mobile and move from place to place carrying their wares on push carts or in
cycles or baskets on their or could sell their wares in moving buses. Any venders engaged in
temporary or transient of selling, offering for sale, exhibiting merchandise for sale taking orders
for merchandise or goods from a vehicle on the streets or who occupy a space in a building
(National Policy, 2004).

Informal sector employs many people all over the world and its type and kind of business various
from country to country. Ethiopia also exhibits many forms of informal sectors and we choose to
study informal sector in Debre Berhan town specifically taking the challenges women face while
being engaged in this activity. Some of the activities visible in Debre Berhan Town which are
regarded as informal include street vendor’s hawkers, street marketers, selling of Tella, Katicala
and etc. The workers who cover a wide area among those informal sectors are women rather than
man. However, our study would be focused only on street vendors in Debre Berhan town.

1.2 Statement of the problem

In Mwaba’s words (2010), in the informal sector, women are generally regarded as subordinate
to their male counter parts, have less voice, less autonomy fewer opportunity and lowered self-
esteem. Women in the informal economy are certainly not exempted from these conditions and
these constraints are clearly reflected in their daily work. This system has given men the right to
invade the private space of women with inappropriate demands that are demeaning to women as
well as infringing on their rights to make a living. Some men go to the extent of demanding to
know whether or not a woman is menstruating before engaging in business with her. According
to ESSET (2010) the expectation is that women during such times. Sadly, women tend to
internalize their subordination and this is reflected in their approach to leadership issues within
their associations. (www.osisa.org/...economic.../women)

Women working in the informal sector face multiple form of competition from their counterparts
and large scale companies. Street traders often experience stiff competition from big economic
players. Women who are less advantaged compared to their male counterparts suffer the most
(Chen, 2001:8).

Women in the informal economy often complain of sexual harassment from both government
and customs officials at the border. Due to a lack of clarity on what is expected of them at the
border posts, women traders are taken advantage of sexually by corrupt government officials in
return for facilitating the entire of their goods (Brentoa, Gamberoni & Sear, 2013).

Street vendors are often persecuted, live in uncertainly, and work in poor condition with little
access to infrastructure. They face problems of eviction, bribe payment, inability to access
various government facility, lack of facility such as toilet, and lighting, etc. lack of social
security and other similar hurdles. In a city like Delhi, where 2.5% of the population consists of
street vendors, they find it difficult to survive. The welfare state fails to provide any social
security to them. Improving the condition of work of street vendors and their economic, social
and legal status is a huge challenge for the state, https: //papers.ssrn.com/…/SSRN_ …
Among the urban poor engaging in informal sector activity is negatively associated with poverty
as well as having an unemployed member in the household. Poverty is measured not only in
terms of lack of basic amenities such as piped water, low education levels, access to electricity,
access roads, sanitation facilities, length of stay in the settlement and ownership of household
outside Nairobi. But it also household lead by people with poor education tends to be poor since
the individual has few chances of landing a formal and well-paying job. (AMENYA, 2006)

The most prominent informal sector activity done by more women in the slum is the selling of
vegetables and fruits. This uses the family labor and also provides the household with food.
Women establish social connections which enable them maintain a chain of customers and trust
building, ensuring staying in business. Slum dwellers spent most of their income on food and
housing. Availability of water, electricity and waste disposal is poor and the residents have to
share or invent their own ways. The famous ‘flying toilets’ are common in the slum and residents
have to buy water. The garbage is not well disposed and the dumping places are breeding areas
of diseases such as cholera and malaria mosquitoes (Ibid).

In Ethiopia, informal workers typically lack social protection afforded to formal paid workers,
such as worker benefits and health insurance typically work under regular and casual contracts.
Informal sector absorbs the majority of urban unemployed growing labor force. It creates a wide
employment opportunity for the marginalized groups especially women who are excluded from
the formal sector due to little access and control over resources, lack of education, the presence
of discriminatory laws, customs and religious practice has been exercised in the past and
continuous in the present (UNECA, 1996; Darare, 2007).

Many researches were taken place regarding to women in the informal sector in different part of
Ethiopia. Dejen Town East Gojjam Zone the research was done by Amene (2011), who was
focused on the important of urban informal sector as livelihood condition for women in case of
producer Tella and Katicalla and his main specific objective was emphasized on: to identify the
push factor for women to the livelihood condition of women in the urban informal sector
especially in the preparation and selling of Tella and Katicalla, to examine the livelihood
condition of women who are engaged in Tella and Katicalla and to examine the socio economic
status of Tella and Katicalla producer seller women. Other researcher in Debub Wollo
particularly in Dessie Town a research related the deriving factors that lead /cause women to
parallel trading activities was also done by Sebsib, (2015). Those researchers that we listed
above did not study different challenges women can face in the informal sector. On the other
hand, we could not find a research done in Debre Berhan town regarding to women in the
informal sector. Therefore, our study will be conducted to assess the challenges of women in the
informal sector and we will try to fill the two gaps listed above, in the case Debre Berhan 07
Kebele.

Objectives of the study

General Objective

The general objective of the study is to identify the challenges of women in the informal sector
particularly, in the case of Debre Berhan 07 Kebele.

Specific Objects

 To assess the economic problem of women in the street vendor

 To examine the socio cultural challenges of women in the street vendor
 To know the health status of women in the street vendor
 To identify the environmental problem where women are working in the street
vendor.

Research question

 What is the economic problem of women in the street vendor?

 What is socio cultural situation of women in the street vendor?
 What is the health status of women in the street vendor?
 How environmental conditions affect women in the street vender?

Scope of the study

Our study would be focused on the assessment of challenge of women in the informal sector. It
would be conducted in Debre Berhan town particularly in 07 Kebele. It would be also concerned
to assess the economic problem of women in the street vendor, to examine the socio cultural
factor of women and to know the health of women particularly in the street vendor.
Significance of the study

The main objective of this study assessed the factor affecting of women in the informal sector,
the case of the Debre Berhan 07 Kebele. This study would be important in different direction. It
would help different stakeholders to know the challenge of women relating to the informal
sector. It indicated different alternatives for stakeholders to solve the problem of women in the
informal sector. It would be used as a resources of information and guideline for people that need
to know and study about the factor affecting of women in the informal sector such as for
procedure makers, strategy designers, implementers, other management bodies as well as for
other researchers in this area.
 Chapter Two
Review Literature
Definition of informal sector
The International Labor Organization (ILO) defined the informal sector for the first time in its
Kenya report in 1972 as the activities of the hard-working poor, who were “not recognized,
recorded, protected or regulated by the public authorities”. These activities possess the
characteristics of “ease of entry; reliance on indigenous resources; family ownership of
enterprises; small scale of operation; labor intensive and adapted technology; skill acquired
outside of the formal school system and unregulated and competitive markets.” (ILO, 1972: 6)

The definition of informal sector has since changed and evolved. Eventually, for statistical
purposes, at the 15th International Conference of Labor Statisticians (ICLS) in 1993, it was
agreed that the definition of the informal sector should be based on production units or
enterprises rather than employment relations. Moreover, flexibility is allowed with regard to the
upper limit on the employment size, the introduction of additional criteria such as the no
registration of either the enterprise or its employees, the inclusion or exclusion of domestic
employees, and the inclusion or exclusion of agriculture (ILO, 1993).

The ICLS definition also recommended that informal sector enterprises should be defined in
terms of one or more of the following criteria: (1) Non-registration of the enterprise in terms of
national legislation such as taxation. (2) Non-registration of employees of the enterprise in terms
of labor legislation. (3) Small firm size, in terms of the number of employees. The International
Expert Group on Informal Sector Statistics (also known as the Delhi Group) proposed a new
definition of the informal sector at the 15th ICLS that was initiated to facilitate international
comparability4. The Group proposed that the informal sector should include ‘private
unincorporated enterprises (excluding quasi corporations), which produce at least some of their
goods or services for sale or barter, have less than five paid employees, are not registered, and
are engaged in non-agricultural activities (including professional or technical activities).
Households employing paid domestic employees are excluded’ (ILO 2002b: 5). It is obvious that
this definition takes criteria (1) and (3) of the 1993 definition into consideration.
General Characteristics of Informal Sectors
The informal sector is characterized by a large number of small-scale production and service
activities that are individually or family owned and uses labor-intensive and simple technology
(Todaro and Stephen, 2003).

Easy of entry, reliance on indigenous resources, family ownership of enterprises or activity

operated by the owner with few or no employees., small scale of operation, labor incentive and
adaptive technology, skills acquired outside the normal school system, have little or no access to
organized markets, to credit institutions, unregulated and competitive markets (ILO, 1972).

To start with operation in the informal sector depending on its scale of operation doesn’t require
formal education, procedures and other requirements. Studies covering twenty-one African
countries show that only a quarter of enterprise in the informal sector acquire their skills from
formal school and training centers. (ILO,1985).

"Small-scale activities characterized by self- employment, mainly using self-labor and household
laborers (usually less than ten), simple technology, low level of organization and unfixed
operation of premises and working hours.’’ (ILO, 1992:.2)
Characteristics of people engaged in the informal sector:
Absence of official protection and recognition, non-coverage by minimum wage legislation and
social security system, predominance of own-account and self-employment work, absence of
trade union organization, low income and wages, little job security, no fringe benefits from
institutional sources, http://www.gdrc.org/informal/1-is_characteristics.html.

Characteristics of the Activities in the Informal Sector:

unregulated and competitive markets, small scale operation with individual or family ownership,
ease of entry, reliance on locally available resources, and family ownership of enterprises, labor
intensive and adapted technology, absence of access to institutional credit or other supports and
protections, (Ibid).
 Specific Characteristics of Informal Traders /Street Vendors
According to John Mwaniki informal traded are categorized in the levels are Global level-
Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT), Regional level and local level- urban informal traders.
Street vendors are categorized local level- urban informal traders with the following
characteristics.
Location
Winnie Mitullah (2003) argues traders are choosing place where easily visible to pedestrians &
motorists that place at strategic points with heavy human traffic. Such as: main roads, streets,
parks, pavements, within shopping centers and corners of streets & roads.
Structures
Winnie Mituallah (2003) describes the traders use different structures. Most of them are use
mats, gunny bags, tables, racks, wheel barrows, handcarts and bicycle seats to display their
goods. The other traders carry their commodities on their hands, heads and shoulders. Some of
them are hang their commodities on walls, trees & fences, and significant of them construct
temporary shades to displaying their goods. Urban informal sector in the public area of cities are
particularly in street-based trading, which is usually known as street vendors. These street
enterprises are not paid tax, not registered and they involve very visible structures. These
economic activities involve simple organizational, technological and production structures. It is
ease of entry and small scale of operate where operates in urban area especially take place at
heavy human traffic.

Street Vendors
In all countries where data is available, informal traders – mainly street vendors - represent a
very high proportion (73-99%) of employment in trade and a significant share (50-90%) of trade
gross domestic product (GDP). Considered another way, street vendors constitute a significant
share of total employment in the informal sector and street vending units constitute a significant
share of total enterprises in the informal sector. Women account for more than 50 percent - and
up to 90 percent – of informal employment in trade, except in those countries (such as Tunisia
and India) where social norms restrict women’s mobility outside the home. Consider the case of
Benin: a 1992 survey of 10 major cities in that country found that street vendors constitute 80
percent of all economic units, women constitute 75 percent of all street vendors, and women
street vendors constitute 26 percent of urban informal labor force and 24 percent of the total
urban labor force (Carr. et al 2000).
Obstacles and Constraints and Risks
Employs in informal sectors has unsecured and work with low wage and poor working condition,
informal sector exploitation higher than formal sector that work more than 10hour work per day
and one half wage get with same productivity. (S. P. Kashyap and Himal Singh; 1987)

Salary Workers leads to Uncertainty in terms of future earnings, Uncertainty in terms of contract
renewal, Lack of basic benefits (severance pay, overtime, unemployment benefits, and sick
leave) and social protection, long working hours, work accidents, absent workers’ organization,
and also Self-employed with Uncertainty in terms of enterprise survival and High indirect
operational costs. (OECD, 2008)

Informal sector or traders are facing a lot of financial and non-financial obstacles and constraints.
That are suffer a lack of legal protection, endure restricted access to capital and business support
Within the informal economy are faced problem here are some of the main ones, as they affect
local government. Poor infrastructure, poor infrastructure affects street vendors, they needed
infrastructure includes formal markets, transport, storage space, water and electricity, poor
access to finance and banking, lack of training, lack of access to economics of scale and low
demand(http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/166856/UCMP/UCMP/
main_problems.html).

The informal sector is often ignored and in some respects helped and in some harassed by the
authorities, enterprises and individuals within it operate largely outside the system of
government benefits and thus have no access to the formal credit institutions and the main sector
operate illegally, (ILO,1972).
Based on different literatures argue that informal sector as whole that activities done out of
formal sectors like home based workers, waste pickers, shoeshine, street vendors and so on.
More or less they face same problem. But some ways differently affected by depends on special
work condition. Specifically when we come to street vendors, According to Lund and Marriott
(2005) cited in Martha Chen (2005) Street vendors are; exposure to weather – extreme
temperatures, wind, rain and sun, poor access to clean water and sanitation from dirty streets and
poor drainage, as well as waste produces from other vendors, diseases transmitted by vermin,
lead poisoning and respiratory problems from vehicle fumes, musculoskeletal problems
associated with ergonomic hazards at workstations and static postures, and risk of physical harm
from both authorities, members of the public or other traders. The greatest challenge facing street
and informal traders is with site of operation and right to trading space, environmental condition,
security, transport, municipal services, and finance (Miltullah, 2003). First, most of the spaces
traders occupy are considered illegal since the spaces have not been set aside for trade. In cases
where they are allowed to operate, the spaces are considered temporary and eviction occurs at the
will of urban authorities. There are various conflicts relating to their sites of operation. A major
conflict often arises when the vendors are required to move in order to give way for planned
development. This brings them into direct confrontation with urban authorities and land
developers. Most of the spaces the traders occupy have no tenure, and are not allocated and
sanctioned by urban authorities. At the same time, the traders are also in conflict with formal
shop owners and landlords who contend that the traders infringe on their businesses and/or
premises. Most of the policies and regulations being enforced on street and market traders owe
their origin to colonial policies, which were retrogressive with regards to small scale local
enterprises. Street and informal traders require laws that recognize their economic activities as an
important component of the urban economy, and ensure their right to trading space.

Second, the spaces occupied by traders are open and expose traders to harsh environmental
conditions. Most commodities of trade such as fruits, vegetables and clothes are affected by the
rain and sun struck.

Third, municipal authorities have been the major source of insecurity for these traders. The
authorities harass, beat and confiscate goods of street vendors without any warning. This does
not only threaten the security of vendors but also their customers. A study of cities in South
Africa has noted that an insecure environment results in loss of customers, frightens tourists,
cripples business, reduces incomes, and generally interferes with trading. During harassments
traders lose their commodities with some closing their businesses after losing their capital goods.

Fourth, informal traders have difficult to transport their commodities from their homes and
markets to their trading sites. This is because most transport systems do not service the areas
where vendors live, and in cases where they do, the vendors can hardly afford the service. And
they forced to carry their goods on their backs or to hire handcarts or human carriers to transport
their goods. This is complicated further by lack of storage facilities, which makes the traders,
carry back to their homes unsold commodities.

Fifth, water and sanitation are also not available to vendors and consumers. Street and informal
traders operate without access to water and sanitation. The majority of vendors rely on unsafe
water sources, unsanitary methods of refuse disposal and use of open spaces as sanitary facilities.
Others obtain services from their homes or nearby residential areas. Even cleansing services
provided by urban authorities are inadequate and do not cover trading areas of street vendors.
Sixth, financial constraint is the most problem of the informal sector, both insufficient capital
and no source of credit
Seventh, lack of technology, the required human and financial capacity informal sector lack
information but information is necessary for capital building, product improvement and
managing the marketing strategies (Miltullah, 2003).

Negative impact of informal sector particularly street vendors

Informal sector as a means of urban air pollution and then case of sick on neighborhoods, and
also the cause of increase the formal sector payment for pollution imitation tax because they
create pollution higher than formal sector due to nature of activity on the other hand none taxed
at all. (Allen, 1999 and Sarbajit, 2006)

Street food vendors is a source of unsafely and unhygienic foods, practices of street food vendors
in Owerri, Nigeria. study shows that although street foods is Unhygienic condition 23.81%,
Preparation Dirty place 33.33%, Reuse oil for frying 72.42%, Personal hygiene Use of apron
only 42.86%, Handles food with bare hands 47.62%, Has long finger nails 9.52%, Hair covering
only 52.38%, Handling money while serving food 61.90%, Wears jewelry 19.05%, and only
42.86%Where stored in refrigerator others are use Plastic container and Cupboards (Comfort O.
Chukuezi, 2010).

Informal sector cannot easily control. This can lead to illegal or unsafe activities that mean no
guaranty for health and safety during on production process, storage and selling. And also lead to
leas quality and short expiry. Governments may be concerned about large informal sectors.
Because of potentially negative consequences for competitiveness and growth, incomplete
coverage of formal social programs and Clutter formal business areas, undermining social
cohesion and law and order, and fiscal losses due to undeclared economic activity. For most
governments, these concerns outweigh any advantages that the informal sector offers as a source
of job creation and as a safety net for the poor http://web.worldbank.org/.

The sector direct negatively affects social benefits. It entails a loss in budget revenues by
reducing taxes and social security contributions paid and therefore the availability of funds to
improve infrastructure and other public goods and services. It invariably leads to a high tax
burden on registered labor http://web.worldbank.org/.

The social and economic negative impact of informal sector activities in different writers such as
Llanes M and Barbour A, Hatcher M, 2007), Copisarow R and Barbour A, 2004), Neale, E. and
Wickramage, (A. 2006) as follows informal businesses create a culture whereby formalized
businesses are tempted away from complying with employment law, informal employment
weakens collective bargaining, thereby worsening workers’ rights, tax avoidance and benefit
fraud results in a loss of state revenue, which in turn, hinders the ability of government to pursue
socially beneficial initiatives, loss of state revenue may cause a rise in taxes which can in turn
encourage an expansion of the informal economy, leading to a descending spiral, undeclared
work skews statistics (such as employment figures), meaning that public policy is premised on
inaccurate information, http://www.wikipreneurship.eu/index.php5?title=Informal_economy.
Specifically, when we try to annualize street vendors, studies show it has own characteristics and
unique features therefore it is good to review separately.

Street vendors often mostly have no receipts and keep accounts, to pay taxes on their earnings,
and to adjust sales or value added taxes to their customers. They make “unfair competition” to
tax-paying off-street businesses, undercutting their off-street competitors because they pay less
overhead and no taxes.
http://www.academia.edu/4826122/Dealing_with_Street_Vendors_in_Public

Health status
Street traders largely work in poor environmental conditions. They are exposed to the elements
(in South Africa there are extremes of heat and in some areas of cold), with generally poor access
to water, sanitation, refuse removal and with poor equipment such as chairs, tables. The
conditions under which street traders work can be gleaned by looking at what researchers said
had been problems with doing the research: the noise and the heat, the fear of crime in parts of
the city where traders work, the presence of children, the political divisions between traders’
organizations which make people fearful of talking openly. It could be expected that there would
be a link between this kind of environment and poor health. Both the CASE survey of
Johannesburg CBD, and the DRA survey of Durban metropolitan, asked street traders for their
own assessment of how healthy they were. Subjective health ratings such as this are always
problematic. Poorer people tend to over-estimate their good health, and better off people tend to
say they are less healthy than they objectively are. Women are more likely than men to say they
are in worse health. Nevertheless, in both studies, the overwhelming majority of the vendors said
their health was excellent, very good or good - over 80% in Durban, and 90% in Johannesburg.
Men were more likely than women to say their health was excellent (44% men compared to 32%
women in Durban; 38% of men compared to 20% of women in Johannesburg). Women were
more likely than men to say they were in poor or only fair health (CASE, 1995b: 52-60).

In 1995, the SEWU members were asked about their health. More than one in ten (12%) said
they health problems directly associated with their work, and there was no difference between
the street vendors and the home based workers. They were asked also about their health in
general: In all, 48% of the respondents said they had no health problems (about Women street
traders ... 31 46% of the street vendors and 53% of the home-based sample). In the case of the
street vendor group, there is a clear correlation between higher income and better health
(Bedford, 1995:17).

In the 1997 survey of SEWU members, on the other hand, 90% reported no health problems. The
discrepancy in these data would suggest that these self-reported measures are possibly best left
out of this sort of survey in future. Three current research initiatives might provide a better
assessment of the health status and problems of women in the informal economy. The University
of the Witwatersrand’s Department of Community Health has started a study of the health of
women in the informal economy. The Medical Research Council, in collaboration with the
Department of Health, is doing a Demographic and Health Study which includes street traders.
Judith Head, of the Department of Sociology at University of Cape Town, is conducting a
literature review of the reproductive health problems of women in the informal sector (Ibid).

.
 Chapter Three

3. Research Methodology

This chapter addresses the research design and data collection analyses in connection with the
objectives of the study. It attempts to answer the research questions.

3.1. Study Design

The formidable problem that follows the task of defining the research problem is the preparation
of a design of the research project, popularly known as “research design” (Kothari 2014).
Therefore, in order to conduct this study, we employed qualitative research method as well as
cross sectional study in side of time. We used qualitative research method, because it helps us to
collect detailed information from the participants. We used cross sectional study because our
study focused on a single issue or movement, and the data was collected at a time. The function
of our study was concerned to describe the event related to the challenge that women are facing
in the informal sector.

Case study design is a type of qualitative research, and it concerned interview, focus group
discussion and observation. It is a good approach when the inquire has clearly identifiable case
with boundaries and seeks to provide an in depth understanding of the cases. It is the key to
define case that can be bounded or described with in certain parameters, such as a specific place
and time. Case studies also distinguished by the size of the bounded case, such as weather the
case involves one individuals, several individuals a group, an entire program or an activity,
(Creswell, 2013).

3.2. Study Area

Our study area focused on 07 Kebele in Debre Berhan town which is located 130 Kilometers
from the capital Addis Ababa. Based on the 2007 national census conducted by the Central
Statistics Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), Debre Berhan town had a total population of 65,563 of
whom 31,668 were men and 33,563 women. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopia
Orthodox Christianity, with 94.12% reporting that as their religion, while 3.32% of the
population said they were Muslims and 2.15% were Protestants (CSA, 2007).

3.3. Procedures of Study Participant Selection

A purposive sampling was used to locate and also recruit participants. Purposive sampling is
identifying available informants for a particular study. For our study we used Purposive sampling
in selecting women street vendors’. we used purposive sampling because the research required
participants who were willing to be studied and be part of it in order to tell share their stories and
experiences based on their own interest.

3.4 Data Collection Procedures

Because of being necessity to use primary and secondary source of data regarding to the study,
we could try to include both of them to get more information from the respondents. There are
different ways included in data collection procedure based on primary source of data it’s such as
interview, observation, focus group discussion, and informal interview. In addition, would use
other written materials as a secondary data source.

3.4.1 Interview

We conducted interview by forwarding various questions in relation to our objective. The

interview included semi structured types of questions to collect relevant data for the study. The
interview guide was prepared by the interviewer based on the specific objective and by standing
some questions. The question which were prepared in side of conducted by Amharic language to
the participants, and then we translated the data obtained from them in to English language.

3.4.2. Informal Interview

There are different questions that we provided in the study to collected data through informal
contact from the respondents without preparing any structured types of questions.

3.4.3. Observation
In order to collect the data regarding to challenges of women vending in the street, we gathered
filed notes by conducting an observation as a participants and as an observer. We observed the
general condition of women who worked in the street vendor.

3.4.4 Focus Group Discussion

In order to collect relevant data regarding to the challenge of women in the informal sector, we
selected eight discussants and we raised some questions for them related with the issue. Because
focus group discussion is a good way to get people together from similar background or
experience to discuss a specific topic of interest. And to understand differences in perspectives as
well as we need to understand its results. It helps us to observe their interaction about the
participant and generate rich information. Regarding to this we have collected the relevant data
using focus group discussion and we simply understood the data difference which obtained from
the interview.

3.4.5. Document Review

In order to support or strength the finding of the study, we used different documented materials
during data collection such as text books and internet.

3.5 Data Collection Techniques

During the data collection, we managed to include different sources of data. These are interview,
focus group discussion and observation. The interview was conducted for five days, and the data
collection technique was recorder and notes were taken. After the completion of the data
collection, the recorded information was transcribed from Amharic to English in Amharic and
then it translated in to English language for analysis.

3.6 Participants of the Study

To increase the validity of the data, it was collected through formal interview prepared by semi
structured types of question, informal interview and focus group discussion. And also for formal
interview we select four interviewees. For focus group discussion we included eight discussants.
3.7. Procedures of Data Analysis

The study was conducted using qualitative research methods. The data was collected using in-
depth interview, discussion and observation. The data have been collected in Amharic language,
but during analysis it was translated into English. The data was analyzed through thematic
analysis or we analyzed by classifying the data into themes.

3.8. Ethical Consideration

During data collection, we introduced our selves for the research participants and then introduced
the topic of the research and the objectives in relation to the study. We made it clear to them
where we came from, and we told them we are sociology students at Debre Berhan University.
The participants known, we have permission for the study; the purpose of the study would be
described for them. The participants were notified that their real names will not be used in the
research writing process.

3.9. Triangulation Techniques

In order to increase the accuracy of the data and in attempt to look the issue from different points
of view or different ways, we used multiple sources of data. Such as in depth interview and focus
group discussion with women who worked in the street vendor as well as we were used
observational and document review as additional source.

3.10. Limitations of the Study

The main limitation of this study was unwillingness of the participants because some participants
were not willing to give a data through interview and discussion. Due to this we had trouble
getting full information when we needed it.

3.11 Organization of the Paper

The paper is divided in to five chapters. Chapter one contains introduction part, statement of the
problem, objectives of the study, research questions, scope of the study, significance of the study
and operational definition. Chapter two is concerned with the review literature related to the
informal sector particularly the street vendor. Chapter three is concerned with the methodology.
The fourth chapter also contained the result of our finding of the study. Finally, the fifth chapter
would be presented the conclusion and possible recommendation.
 Chapter Four

Findings of the Study

This chapter is a main body of the study for which data that has been collected according to the
study where able to be analyzed widely. A method that data was collected was case study which
is the category of qualitative method. The data was also collected from interviews, discussants,
and observation done based on issue of the study. The major finding of the managed to be
presented based on four main themes including nine sub themes. In addition, it was used to be
presented beginning from interviews and discussants background profiles. According to the
finding all participants are coding.

Table 1 Background of Interview Participants

No Pseudonym Sex Age Education level Religion

1 Netsanet shiferaw F 28 Illiterate Orthodox

2 Mihret shiferaw F 28 Up to 5 Orthodox

3 Emebet Abera F 41 Up to 8 Orthodox

4 Mulunesh Zewdu F 38 Illiterate Orthodox

5 Etalem Tsegaye F 29 Up to 3 Protestant

6 Getitu Abera F 32 Illiterate Muslim

Table 2. Background of FGD Participants

No Pseudonym Sex Age Education level

1 Abebech Alemu F 29 Illiterate

2 Ayelech Belay F 27 Up to 6

3 Etenat Melesse F 36 Up to 4
4 Getitu Abera F 44 Illiterate

5 Misaye Atnafu F 51 Illiterate

6 Yeshiwerk Mulat F 46 Illiterate

7 Awekech Birhanu F 38 Illiterate

8 Selam Adefris F 33 Illiterate

The total number of participants is 14, among the participants included during data collection six
for interview, eight for discussion were selected.

The Economic Problem

The data collected using interview discussants and observation shows there are different
problems that women are suffering economically in the street vendor. This economic problem
related to natural and human made factors.

The Problem of Goods Relating to Robbery, Sun and Other Pollutants

As the interviewees told us, there are various problems which ruin their different goods due to
wind and heavy sun light. These wind and burning sunlight were noted to ruin most of goods
based on data. Because of these goods can wither, change their color, loss their normal weight
and be dry. Women are forced to disregard their goods defective (deformed) by wind and too
much sun light. Different pollutants relating to different factors such as rain, mood, dust,
moisture can destroy different goods in the street vendor and those goods are used to be out of
benefiting. In addition to these, various customers moving to buy that they want can destroy
goods by stepping on. Animals moving around that can also cause for bankruptcy by stepping
on, spilling, pissing, and eating.

Case 1
As the data collected from the interviewees shows there is other economic problem for which
women are facing relating to robbery and marauders as well as thieves can take different goods
including other materials by deception. Mulunesh said, she faced heavy economic bankruptcy
due to the factors relating to robbery, sun and other pollutants. This woman was born in south
Wollo Borena Zone and she spent her childhood out of her parent’s house because she had come
to Debre Berhan town in 1992 and managed to stay some years as a house maid for people. After
that, she began her own business relating to street vendor and she spent a long time doing this
work. However, she faced economic bankruptcy at different time in different place. One day
Mulunesh said, her goods were looted while she was selling due to violence in the area she
worked. After five months her goods could be also looted by thieves. On the other hand, she
always faced a bankruptcy relating to sun and other pollutants. Mulunesh said, she is suffering in
economically due to those factors, and she doesn’t have an alternative to desist this work.

The Profitability and Acceptability of Goods

Regarding to profitability and acceptability of goods the data obtained from interviewees show
there are many challenges by which women are facing while vending on the street. The
interviewees said they do not get enough profit for themselves and their family.

Mihret said, women face lack of customers buying their goods. Because the goods existing in the
street vendor are usually the same and the customers think they cannot acquire a better
alternative from that. The customers also believe goods which can be sold in the street will go
bad because of the sun it gets, wind moisture, rain and other polluting things. Because of this,
women are not able to sell their goods by the amount that they want as their supply and
customer. Such situations in the street vendor are the main factors which can challenges the
women not to obtain a better profit and have a better standard way of life. And to sum up, Mihret
said most of women unable to lead themselves and household through this work.

On the other hand, there are other challenges that Etalem and Emebet added regarding to
profitability and acceptability of goods. They said some persons who have legal working place
and a better money work together with women who have not enough money and legal working
place as well as they share the market movement in the street vendor. Those persons or sellers
have high influence to tender and harry customers during the marketing; they can also come up
with a better supply rather than others who have not a better capital and legal working place they
are known by their greedy during marketing. In addition to this, Etalem and Emebet said all of
women who work in street vendor can bring and buy their foods from Debre Berhan town.
However, they are known to bring their goods from other retailers living in they also receive the
goods by expensive price. And they also said most of women are exposed for bankruptcy due to
their being retailer of retailers.

The Influence of Government and Local Community on the Street Vendor

There is a negative influence coming from the government and local communities. According to
the data obtained from the discussants, women who working in the street vendor face most
problems inside of governments and local communities. Among the discussants Ayelech and
Awekech said that most of women who work in street vendor cannot borrow a credit from the
government. They do not mortgage for the government when they borrow the credit. Because of
this, government cannot be voluntary to give a credit for those women. Discussants said such
women are forced to work something through some money. Government is seen to force women
to pay a tariff monthly for a place where they work too. This tariff cannot much with their profit.
Those problems relating to shortage of capital subjected them not to provide better goods’ supply
and they are also restricted to transit to a better business. The discussants said women are forced
to leave their working place. The reason local communities restrict women not work from that
place due to their working place being illegal and near living home.

Problems of Illiteracy of Women in the Street Vendor

The participants said that illiteracy can cause for bankruptcy in street vendor. According to the
data obtained from the interviewees women are suffering during marketing, because they can
face fraud price relating to calculation. Some customers who are not subjected for mind fraud the
women by giving illegal paper money. This can be when they sell their goods for the customers
and receiving from other retailers.
The Problem Occurring During Women Moving Their Goods

According to this there are different problems known based on data’s collected from the
interviewees women face a problem connecting to labor when they move their goods from one
place to another place. As the participants said that women cannot acquire proletariats carrying
their goods to their home, and on the other hand, they are used to acquire proletariats bring their
goods from their living place to the working place. The proletariats are able to ask women illegal
fee during their carrying the goods. They can also hide to slide goods that they carried. In
addition to this, preliterate can break goods carelessly when they carry and manhandle by hand
cart. The participants said that there is another problem related to time when women who are
working in the street vendor are usually known to loss their time because the place where they
work is not permanent and comfortable for them. This problem leads to they not to use their time
properly way. Furthermore, there is other problems’ relating to transportation. The participant
said most of “Bajaj” and cart drivers ask the women illegal fee. According to the data collected
from the interviewees and discussants women face many problems related to labor, and time as
well as transportation. Relating to this, participants told they spend illegal cost over profit and
face the bankruptcy. To sum up, participants said they hate the work due to those problems.

There are additional data obtained from our review literature and which could support findings of
the study based economic problems of women in the street vendor. According to Lund and
Marriott explanations, the greatest challenge facing street and informal traders is with site of
operation and right to raiding space, environmental condition, security relating to goods,
transport, and municipal service, and finance. Informal traders have difficult to transport their
commodities from their homes and markets to their trading sites. This is because most transport
systems do not service the areas where vendors live and in cases where they do, the vendors can
hardly afford the service. And they forced to carry their goods on their backs or to hire handcarts
or human carry to transport their goods. This is complicated further by lack of storage facilities,
which makes the traders, carry back to their homes unsold commodities (Miltullah, 2003)

There are also other problems obtained from the review literature regarding to economical
problem. Street vendors are facing a lot of financial obstacle and constraints. That are suffer a
lack of legal protection related to goods, endure restricted access to capital and business support.
Poor infrastructure affect street vendors, they needed infrastructure includes formal market,
transport, storage space related their goods and poor access to financial and banking, lack of
training, lack of access to economic or scale and low demand.(Ibid)

Socio-Cultural Challenges of Women in the Street Vendor

The participants said there are various problems relating to socio-cultural challenges of women
in the street vendor.

The Problem of Awareness on Women in the Street vendor

According to the data obtained from interviewees and discussants, women face the problem of
awareness with which society is committing in intentionally and unintentionally. Misaye said
women can be insulted derided by the persons. Beyond this insulting and deriding most of
persons are used to up braid and look down women work by working and other place including
their home. She also said, conflict can occur connecting to unwanted things they are faced due to
their work. The reason such problems can occur is connecting to look down the job, not giving
dignity to the work or the women who work in the street vendor. Due to those women are
emotional and ignore the work. And they are also used to conflict with themselves and with
others. They face stress and disability due to conflict occurring in working place and other their
home.

As the data obtained from the interviewees, women are exposed to sexual harassment. Unless
they give a positive answer for question that they are asked around sexual harassment, some of
person’s particularly adult men can commit upbraiding and bating body on them. The persons
who are used to commit such crimes can be drunker, mental illness, defective and others having
unethical behavior. In addition to this, women are also exposed for diseases such as HIV/AIDS
and others.
Furthermore, it was told by interviewees and discussants women are also exposed for diseases
such as HIV/AIDS and other disease due to sexual harassment. They can abandon the work or go
to leave their working place and be had over for other the same problems.

Case 2

Yeshiwerk who was born in Debre Berhan Karafino kebele told to have miserable story relating
to sexual harassment. Despite the fact that she was born around this Debre Berhan town, she
could not escape from such problem because she is working in street vendor. Yeshiwerk said she
has been by the work of street vendor for 9 years. One of the days, she said someone met her
while she was going from her working place to home. He drunk and missed himself by drinking
alcohol and he had her stopped on the street. He asked her a question relating to sex, but
Yeshiwerk was involuntary for the question. However, that person ravished her by force without
her consent. She said he also committed her crime of beating body and robbing money. Beyond
this crime, Yeshiwerk was exposed for syphilis. Regarding to this she had cut her work around
due to the crime that she faced. But she had not an alternative to lead her household and herself.
After that she was forced to continue previous work and Yeshiwerk is used to be now by this
work.

The Problems Related to Security Protection on Women in the Street Vendor

There are various problems inside of security protection challenging women going on in the
street vendor. Abebech said, a place where women are working now is more exposed to the
problem coming from security. There is no any security protection that government does like
other formal sector and it doesn’t only preserve themselves and their goods inside of security but
also doesn’t encourage them by giving credit, moral (psychological) support, training, incentive
and legal working place. Abebech said, women themselves also do not take stride to solve the
problem because they have not a power to use an alternative. Regarding to this, Abebech said
women and their goods are exposed for different challenges.

Enanu said because of women being illiteracy they are not able to communicate one another and
Search alternatives as well as to solve the problem. Women cannot select friend and they have
not a plan communicate with societies.
There are additional data obtained from the review literature in order to stiffen finding of the
study. There are various conflicts relating to the street vendor sites of operation. A major conflict
often arises when the vendors are required to move in order to give way for planned
development. This brings them in to direct confrontation with urban authorities and land
developers. Most of the space the traders occupy have no tenure and ere not allocated sanctioned
by urban authorities. At the same time the traders are also in conflict with formal shop owners
and landlords who connected that the traders infringe on their business and promises. Municipal
authorities have been the major source of insecurity for these traders. The authorities harass beat
and confiscate goods of street vendors without any warning. This does not only threaten the
security of vendors (Miltullah; 2003).

Health Problems of Women in the Street Vendor

According to the data obtained from interviewees, discussants and observation, there are
different problems that participants said based on health of women who work in the street vendor
women are exposure to health problem by different factors relating to working place.

The Problem Connecting to Traffic Accident and Conflict

Selam, Yeshiwerk, and Awekech said women are exposure to health problem by different factors
relating to working place. They face traffic accident causing by vehicle and cart. Because of this
there are some women exposed for disability. On the other hand, there are two women who lost
their life because of car accident. Some of them also injured their body occurring by cause of
cart. According to our observation we saw the women committed beating crime with one another
and fight with the customers. Ayelech said, some women working in street vendor lost one of
their bodies and they were used to be disability.

The Problems Occurring on Women Health Due to Sun and Other Contaminants

As we observed women who are working in the street vendor, their health is exposure for
different risks. Because there are different factors which can cause for health problem in a place
where they are working such as sun struck, dust, moisture which can cause for common cold,
wind, which can cause the color change, heat which can cause cancer and wart.
Discussants said they face a sun struck and loss food apatite. They can also face health problem
relating to contaminated food. The food that they eat is able to be contaminated by dust, wind,
sunshine and by other contaminate things causing by moisture.

Case 3

Shibire Aweke said she came from this north Shoa zone Minjar district. She stayed with her
husbands for 12 years from native place. After those years, she came to Debre Berhan town with
her two children. As Shibire come, she began a work relating to street vendor. However, she said
the work made her health problem due to unhygienic food and unsafely water and her face color
was also used to change due to wind and stream of light.

According to Lund and Marriot (2005) cited in Marthachen (2005) street vendors are exposure to
weather-extreme temperatures, wind, rain, and sun, poor access to clean water and sanitation
from dirty streets and poor drainage as well as waste produces from vehicle fumes,
musculoskeletal problems associated with ergonomic hazards at work stations and static postures
and risk of physical harm from both authorities’ members of the public or other traders.

Water and sanitations are also not available to vendors and consumers. Street traders operate
without access to water sanitation. The majority of vendors rely on unsafe water sources and
unsanitary methods of refuse disposal. Street food vendor is a source of unsafely and unhygienic
foods, practices of street food vendors in Owerri, Nigeria, study shows that although street food
is unhygienic condition 23.81% preparation dirty place 33.33% Reuse oil for frying 72.42%
personal hygiene use of operon only 42.86%. Handles food with bare hands 47.62% has long
fingers nails 9.52%, Hair covering only 52.38%, handling money while serving food 6.90%,
wears jewelry 12.05%, and only 42.86% where stored in refrigerator other are use plastic
container and cupboard (Comfort O. Chukuezi, 2010)

The problem of working place women in the street vendor

According to the participants there are different problems occurring daily due to uncomfortable
working place. The problems include economic, social, health etc.

The Problem of Working Place Relating to Time and Labor of Women

Discussants said that the environment where they are working now is tentative. Because this
environment was not allowed by the government for working, women cannot buy and sell goods
permanently or legally. They always cover around one place to another place to sell their goods.
Government leading the town does not allow them to retail their goods permanently and help
them including their families by their profit.

As discussants known as Selam, Awekech, Misaye and Enanu said they loss time moving from
one place to another place to sell their goods. They also face lack of time to return from working
place to home and vice versa. Because of this most of them dismay and loss their mind, a place
where they work now can be far from their home, and women working in street vendor can stir
one to go head a space. Those discussants said a place is used to expose them for different
obstacle connecting to time due to its being illegal and impermanent.

Netsanet Shiferaw among interviewees said that most of women face labor problem due to the
place being on illegal and impermanent. Such place relating to street vendor exposes women to
carry and transport their goods daily place to place. It also forces them to search proletariat, cart,
“Bajaj” and hand cart.

The health problem of women relating to working place in the case of street vendor

As Getitu said, the place where women are working based on street vendor is exposed for
different serious problems. There is a road in the middle of their working place. Because this,
women expose to car accident, dust, and cart accident and they can be also injured by different
animals. She also said a place has been covered by moisture which can cause common cold and
headache. There is no safe water and sanitation, toilet, protection stream of light. It was not
covered by cobblestone. Getitu said, most of street vendors are used to expose to weather
extreme temperature, wind, rain and sun poor access to clean water and sanitation from dirty
streets and poor drainage, as well as waste produces from other vendors, diseases transmitted by
vermin respiratory problems from vehicle fumes. The spaces occupied by women are open end
expose to harsh environmental conditions. Due to this, most commodities of trade such as fruits,
vegetables, and clothes are affected by the rain and sun struck.
 Chapter Five

Conclusion and Recommendation

Conclusion

This chapter is a part of our writing which handled to conclude the main idea of the study from
introduction up to finding of study. Despite the fact that ideas relating to the study have been
putted through their own place, most of them were able to have been concluded shortly in this
chapter, and our study was focused on the challenges of in the informal sector particularly in the
case of street vendor.

The data collected from interviewees, discussants and observations show there are different
problems that women are suffering economically, socio-culturally, and environmental condition
in the street vendor. As the interviewees said, there are various problems of goods relating to
robbery sun, rain, wind and other contaminants which ruin their different goods. Because of
these goods can wither, change their color, loss their normal weight and be dray. Regarding to
these women is forced to disregard their goods defective by wind, stream of light and other
contaminants.

The interviewees said, they didn’t acquire a better profit that they can lead themselves and their
household relating to the profitability and acceptability of goods. Women face lack of customer
buying their goods. Because the goods existing in the street vendor are usually the same and the
customers think they cannot acquire a better alternative from that. The customers also believe
goods which can be sold in the street vendor usually expired by stream light, wind, rain and
other contaminants things. Because of these women cannot sell their goods by amount that they
want as their supply and customer. Such situations in the street vendor are the main factors
which can challenges the women not to obtain a better profit and have a better standard way of
life.

As we got the data from the discussants, there are different problems occurring during women
moving their goods. Women cannot acquire proletariat and Bajaj carrying their goods to their
home and to their working place. The proletariats are able to ask women illegal fee during their
carrying the goods. They can also hide to slide goods that they carried. In addition to this,
preliterate can break goods carelessly when they carry and manhandle by hand cart.

The data obtained from the interviewees and discussants, women are exposed to health problem
related to sun struck, wind, moisture, traffic car accident and conflict as well as other
contaminants. As the participants said and we observed their working place also have a negative
impact on their health. These problems are causes for common cold, face color change, cancer
and wart. In addition to this, poor access to clean water, sanitation from dirty streets, poor
draining as well as waste product from vehicle fumes are the major health problems.

Street vendors are often persecuted, live in uncertainly, and work in poor condition with little
access to infrastructure. They face problems of eviction bribe payment, inability to access
various government facility, lack of facility such as toilet, and lighting, etc. lack of social
security and other similar hurdle. Street traders often experience stiff competition from big
economic players. Due to this, women are less advantage compared to their male counter parts
suffers the most.
 Recommendation

We tried to describe some ideas as a solution related to the challenges of the women in the street
vendor. These ideas that we described can help women to get a better solution for their
challenge.

 Government should give women regular working place where they can work
permanently.
 If the government doesn’t this, it should give other temporary place far from the road.
Such place where women are being given to work temporary should be freely from
moisture, dust and traffic accident.
 Government should allow women to build tentative house which can prevent them from
stream of light, dust, wind, rain and unpleasant smell.
 Government should police at the place where women work for them and their goods
security.
 Government should build toilet and water at the working place.
 It should also protect the working place from the different waste which thrown by local
residence and build different spill of waste.
 Women themselves must attack the government to give regular place which is
comfortable for their work.
 The government should facilitate the credit for women who working in the street vendor
to change themselves to better way of life.
 It should also know to have a duty to train women to have a better skill about their
works, feeding, health care as well as to prevent other accident.
  It is a nice government and other stakeholders used to give training for women to have a
better awareness around social interaction, sexual harassment, robbery, traffic accident
life skill and saving money.
 It is a better to solve such problems women can organize themselves through name of
association.
 Women who are working in the street vendor should know to have right to learn and
training about their life and it is a better alternative they are able to ask a government.
And other stakeholders about the training.

Appendix

The challenges of women are facing in the street vendor

Introduction

Interview code___________________

Date of interview_________________

Part I: personal profile

Sex____________

Age___________

Education level__________________

Part II the Economic Problems of Women in the Street Vendor

1. Is there a problem that your goods are facing connecting to robbery, sun and other
contaminants?
2. Do your goods have an acceptable inside of your customers?
3. Do you face a problems relating to times and labor during you’re moving the goods?
4. Does the job have an influence restricting you not gat credit from government?
5. Are there persons having a better business and other legal working place among you?
 6. Do you pay tax for government by this job?
7. Does this jobs by which you are working have an influence to manage your household?
8. Are there problems you are facing due to your being illiterate?

Part III Socio-Cultural Challenges in the Street vendor

1. Is an awareness problem that you are facing from the societies?

2. Is your job encouraged through government or other stakeholders?
3. Do you have a cooperation that you can help one another during the problems
occurring?
4. Do you face sexual harassment related to your job?
5. Are there movements which are being done by government and yourself for your
security regarding to your job?
6. Are there social problems through which you are facing relating to illiterate?

Part IV the Health Status of Women in the Street Vendor

1. Are there problems which can occur relating to traffic and other accidents due to this
work?
2. Does your food face a problem connecting to sun contaminants things?
3. Are there health problems you are facing connecting to sun and other things?
4. Do you face health problems relating to conflict with other and yourself?

Part V the Problems of Environment

1. Does a place where you are working now have publicity inside of government?
2. Are there problems through which your working place can create on your goods
and yourselves?
3. Does your working place bring an influence inside of time and labor?
4. Does your working place have an influence strict you not to have permanent
customers?
5. Can you sell and buy your goods at any times on your working place?
6. Do you pay a tariff for your working place?