Nicaragua's informal workers reap rewards of organising

In Nicaragua, work in the informal sector is often family based, carried out by campesinos, the self employed, crafts people and those running small businesses. While crucial to the economy, this type of activity is not supported by the state, making it an increasingly impoverished sector that lacks any formal structure. Those who work in it have no access to finance, new markets, social security, assistance or education. They often live in conditions of extreme poverty and child labour is common.

In 2002, following false accusations of murder against people selling goods at traffic lights, the FNT (National Workers Front) made organising informal sector workers a priority by setting up the Confederation of Self-employed Workers (CTCP). The CTCP is now made up of five federations - money changers, transport workers, traffic light workers, bus stop workers and a general section - with 39,000 members.

They have fought hard to operate as a well-functioning union. The CTCP provides workshops on topics such as marketing and business administration, targeting young people and women. The union also organises heath care, including low-cost medicines, maternity benefits and low interest loans to prevent members resorting to money lenders who charge 40 percent interest.

Socorro Navarrette, secretary general of the traffic light workers’ union, says: “I feel very supported by the CTCP. They help us so that we don’t feel so alone or afraid of being moved on from our workplaces.” Socorro explains how the CTCP was able to help when she was approached by a gringo (foreigner) offering to pay her to find him children to photograph. She pretended she would do as he asked and they arranged to meet the next day. Instead she went to the union, which informed the police. When he arrived for the appointment, they were waiting to arrest him.

Maria Teresa Sánchez migrated to Managua from her hometown in search of work. After a stint as a maid, she became a street seller of lottery tickets and scratch cards in Israel Lewites Market. She worked there for more than 15 years and suffered all types of aggression. “They were disrespectful towards me and said vulgar things”, she says. “After that I decided to stop this kind of work and, thanks to the CTCP, I started to work with others in the struggle for the rights of informal sector workers. Now I am the general secretary of Israel Lewites Market and I personally feel very respected by the CTCP. They have created more space for us and given us plenty of encouragement.”

Many benefits are now emerging for informal sector workers since the election of the FSLN government of national reconciliation and unity, which has demonstrated its concern for poor people. Among other things, it has provided stoves and installed benches at traffic lights, which provide security and a resting place for workers.

This is a summary of an article by Evelyn Leiva Lopez from the SEICAP (Informal Sector Economies of Central America and Panama) Network, translated by Natasha Eve.

The Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group (NSCAG) is developing a project in support of the CTCP. For more information, contact Natasha Eve at nscag@nicaraguasc.org.uk