The Ecumenical Service for Socio Economic Transformation (ESSET) is holding a two

day Stakeholder Dialogue on Policy and Legislation of Informal Trade. The dialogue is being

held in Kliptown Hall (Soweto) on 11- 12 October 2011.

Background to the dialogues

ESSET started working with informal traders around the city of Johannesburg in 2006. One of

the ESSET projects under its accompaniment programme is informal trading. In 2006,

we conducted a survey on informal trade, with the aim to have a better perspective of the sector. In 2011, ESSET supported by the Foundation for Human Rights embarked on the project

titled: Strengthening the Voice of Women informal traders in Policy processes.

In carrying out this project, ESSET embarked on a number of activities. One of these is a

research that was aimed at providing information on relevant legislation and policies

and conducted three days workshops in Johannes burg and Rustenburg on advancing the

socio economic rights of women traders. The workshops together with the research resulted

 in an understanding by women traders of their rights; however the issues on policy still

needs further engagement. Thus the upcoming stakeholder dialogue will be used as a

platform for both women and men informal traders and policy makers, law enforces to

engage, to ensure proper representation of women informal traders in policy processes

and the realisation of their rights to participate in the informal economy.

The objectives of the dialogue are :  

·         To engage on the research findings on legislation and policy that has a bearing on

       rights of women traders to trade and its implications to participatory democracy.

·         To deliberate on shared experiences and demands formulated while exploring possible avenues for participation.

·         To explore avenues for participation by women traders and to examine hindrances to participation of women traders in policy processes.

Stakeholder Dialogue schedule details:

Date : 11- 12 October 2011

Venue: Jabulani, Soweto

Time: 10am – 3pm