Extension of social protection to self-employed workers: Re-considering the need and the possibilities in light of the Covid19 pandemic

Abstract

The research examines the implementation of social protection for self-employed workers within the context of South Africa. The paper argues that unlike formal employees, self -employed workers are excluded from accessing many social protection schemes. This exclusion exists despite the entrenchment of social security as a fundamental right in the Constitution. Factors such as legal exclusion and administrative challenges hinder access to social protection for self - employed workers. As a result, many self-employed workers have limited access, if any to social protectionschemes. The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic deepened the negative effects of the lack of coverage for self-employed workers and reaffirmed the need to include them under the ambit of social protection measures.