Social Protection Policy And Institutionalisation Of Informal Sector Workers In Bugisu Region, Uganda

Abstract

Contemporary literature on social protection for informal sector workers has focused on the role of institutionalisation in promoting access to social protection. However, the social protection policy in Uganda is fragmented and excludes the informal sector workers. Thus the policy does not facilitate the institutionalisation of informal sector workers. This study, therefore, set out to (i) examine the influence of agenda setting of social protection policy on institutionalisation of informal sector workers (ii) assess the effect of the implementation strategy of social protection policy on the institutionalisation of informal sector workers (iii) establish the extent to which sustainability strategies of social protection policy promote institutionalisation of the informal sector workers and (iv) evaluate and analyse the extent to which access to social protection influences institutionalisation of informal sector workers. The study was conducted in Bugisu region in the districts of Mbale, Manafwa and Namisindwa. The study adopted quantitative research design which was triangulated with qualitative methods. The study involved 405 respondents in the categories of informal sector workers, NGOs and Government. The respondents were selected using multistage, purposive, stratified and systematic sampling techniques. Data were collected using questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and interviews. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data whereas quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Multiple regressions were used to establish the relationship between variables in all the four objectives. The findings revealed that social protection policy has a positive significant influence on the institutionalisation of the informal sector workers as revealed by R 2 = 0.175; F=18.3 and ANOVAa (P=0.000).Thus the overall influence of social protection policy on institutionalisation of informal sector workers is 17.5%.The dynamics of agenda setting of social protection policy were found to have a positive significant influence as reflected by  = 0.131 p< 0.028. Findings show that lack of involvement and participation of informal sector workers in the agenda setting process leads to lack of prioritisation and targeting of risks faced by informal sector workers. Findings further show that the implementation strategy of social protection does not have a significant influence on institutionalisation of informal sector workers as reflected by  = 0.015, p< 0.809. Instead the results show the need to review the factors in the regulatory environment as well as promote economic empowerment of the workers for enhanced ability to contribute towards the schemes. It was also found out that the sustainability strategies of social protection policy positively influence institutionalization of informal sector workers by 15.8 % as reflected by  =0.158, p<0.07.The findings point to the need to empower different categories of workers to make contributions towards social protection schemes. Finally, access to social protection shows the highest level of influence on institutionalization of the informal sector workers at 25% and with  =0.25, p<, 000.Thus, the study findings show that institutionalisation of informal sector workers should be promoted by increasing access to social protection and participation of the informal sector workers in agenda setting and design and implementation of sustainable schemes. The findings of this study are thus relevant in informing the government and other development partners about how the social protection needs of the informal sector workers can be effectively addressed. In addition, the study informs academicians and other researchers about the link between social protection policy and informality of the informal sector workers.