The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown the spotlight on the importance of the informal economy as a means of survival.
According to the quarterly labour force survey there are 2.9 million people earning a living in the informal sector. 
In percentages, the informal sector accounts for almost 26% of total employment (traders at 17.8% and household or domestic workers at 8%).
Stats SA defines an informal worker as a self-employed individual who is not registered to pay income tax or value-added tax.