“He left us in the dark forest and unloaded us off the truck”: Work and health related vulnerabilities of female scrap collectors in rural Eastern Cape and the implications for women’s rights

Abstract

Social work has long been at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights, striving to ensure their access to dignity, economic empowerment and social protection. However, despite these efforts, many women in South Africa remain trapped in precarious informal employment, such as scrap collection, which exposes them to significant vulnerabilities. This study explored the work and health-vulnerabilities faced by female scrap collectors in the rural Eastern Cape communities. Using a case study design that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques, the research was conducted in two phases. The first phase developed a socioeconomic profile of the scrap collectors, while the second phase explored the specific work and health-related vulnerabilities experienced by women. Findings reveal that female scrap collectors face multiple hardships, including hazardous working conditions, and a lack of social protection, all of which undermine their rights to human dignity and decent work. The Longwe Women’s Empowerment Framework was employed to analyse the levels of disempowerment and identify strategies for promoting the economic and social empowerment of female scrap collectors. The study highlights an urgent need for policy interventions and social work advocacy to enhance the protection, recognition and empowerment of women engaged in scrap collection. © National Association of Social Workers Zimbabwe/Author(s).