The socioeconomic incorporation of immigrant and native-born day labourers in Tshwane, South Africa

Abstract

It has been widely documented that unauthorized immigrants experience adverse economicincorporation in destination countries, particularly in the global North. Faced with restrictedemployment opportunities, many are drawn into informalizing segments of the labour marketwhere earnings are low and unstable. Much less is known about how immigrant workers farein the informal economy of cities of the South. Using surveys conducted in 2004, 2007 and2015, we examine the economic outcomes of immigrant and native-born workers who partici-pate in the day labour markets of Tshwane, South Africa. In 2004 there were signs that for-eign-born workers enjoyed modestly better outcomes than South Africa-born workers. In thelatter periods, however, these advantages have disappeared and there are indications of adownward convergence of employment outcomes. The article concludes with a call for creat-ing worker centres to regulate informal job markets for the benefit of workers, regardless ofimmigration status.