The impact of COVID-19 on the livelihood of informal sector workers: A case study of street vendors in Eenhana Town, Ohangwena region, Namibia
The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been extensive and has resulted in significant negative consequences, particularly impacting individuals employed in the informal sector. Among the most susceptible groups are street vendors, who face increased vulnerability due to their limited skills and resources for coping with such crises. This research aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the informal sector in Eenhana Town, Ohangwena Region, Namibia. A quantitative research approach was used, and descriptive statistics on income before, during, and after COVID-19, frequency table, and crosstabulations were used to present the research results. A sample of 133 respondents of street vendors were targeted using a stratified sampling method. Data was gathered using a quantitative survey questionnaire. The data collected through the questionnaires was subjected to statistical data analysis techniques utilising version 23 of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. Many informal sector workers had livelihood losses, with high rates of job and income losses amongst street vendors. The Namibian government has implemented support programmes, but few are aware of them, thus indicating a lack of cohesion between the government and the sector. The research found that it is important to increase the involvement of informal workers in decision-making processes to promote a sustainable recovery and protect against potential crises
COVID-19, Street vendor, Informal wage employment, Livelihood, Employment, Unemployment, Informal economy, Namibia, University of Namibia
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