Informal Work and the Implications for the Workers’ Health: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Background: There are currently 127 million people working in informal conditions in Latin America and the Caribbean. Informal work is characterised by not ensuring access to basic social and labour rights, accentuating social inequalities. Objectives: To identify the implications of informal work for the health of the workers in this sector of the economy. Methodology: Integrative literature review, conducted between December 2013 and February 2014. Results: The study included 17 articles written in Portuguese, English or Spanish, available in the LILACS, MEDLINE and CINAHL databases. Conclusion: In informal work settings, the workers are mostly affected by musculoskeletal system diseases and mental health problems. This type of work is a predominantly manual work, poorly paid, and not enough to meet the needs of the workers and their families, thus generating feelings of worthlessness and sometimes depression.