The genesis of the informal sector in Mozambique is similar to the way it emerged in many other countries in the world, starting mainly with small businesses performed by unemployed people, peasent families, street vendors among others as their self employment. The informal sector offers a striking illustration of the strengths and weakness of enterprises in Mozambique. A simple and transparent legal framework, properly enforced is indispensable for the long term success of the informal sector to turn to formal sector. Taxation is controversary in the informal sector. The existing tax system in Mozambique is distorced and naturally contribute to a host of economic and social problems. The needed for the reform of taxation system has been acknowledged for instance the recent implementation of VAT system in Mozambique still on process of implementation. Taxes generated by the informal sector could contribute to the budget of the State. / Mercantile Law / LL.M.

MCom / Department of Business Management / Government regulations are needed to achieve a range of economic and social objectives which are beneficial to the nation as a whole. However, many countries experience problems with their regulatory systems as they invariably impose costs on businesses. In South Africa, it comes in the form of red tape, high taxes, labour laws and corruption. This places various regulatory burdens including compliance, administrative costs and other costs that may adversely influence firms’ productivity and frustrate their overall business performance and growth, particularly the small business sector. Given this sector’s indisputable contribution towards the overall economic health of the nation, it is important to address its concerns regarding the issue of the regulatory environment and government policy, in order to initiate corrective action and introduce regulatory reforms. Again, it is important to point out that not all businesses within the small business sector suffer under the weight of regulation. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which South Africa’s regulatory environment curtails the growth of the small business sector as well as determine whether the different categories of firms within the Small Business Sector (micro, very small, small or medium) bears different regulatory burdens. This study was carried out in Polokwane, Capricorn District Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. To address the research problem, the positivist paradigm was used. The study used the mixed research method and the descriptive research design. The stratified sampling technique was used to determine various characteristics of the study population, while the convenience sampling technique was used due to constraints in reaching everyone in the population. The aim was therefore to find a representative sample of that population. Thus, to ensure that the population was representative, a sample size of 121 participants was derived using the Raosoft sample size calculator as well as other criteria. Questionnaires were utilised as the data collection tool and the collected data were analysed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, cluster analysis and Kruskal Wallis were also used to analyse the collected data. Results indicate that to a certain extent, the regulatory environment influences the small business sector negatively. On the other hand, the efforts and skills of the business owner influence their success and ability to remain in business, thus influencing the growth of the sector. The results also show that different categories of businesses within the small business sector bear different burdens, owing to certain characteristics they are defined by. / NRF

Notre thèse analyse les liens entre renforcement de la hiérarchisation au travail et modalités de résistances à un statut subalterne. Nous avons étudié, par le biais d’une enquête par entretien en France et en Belgique, un espace de travail en constant renouvellement :le commerce de détail en boutique dans le secteur du prêt à porter. Les travaux sociologiques sur la précarisation des statuts d’emploi ont été peu centrés sur les rapports de travail qui existent dans ce type d’entreprises dont l’un des critères déterminant reste le nombre limité de salariés dont une majorité de jeunes femmes. Le passage d’un commerce indépendant à un commerce de « boutiques de masse » rationalisé a induit une transformation des conditions d’encadrement. Du petit patron indépendant on passe au manager salarié. Cette nouvelle relation patronale, invisible, entraîne un renouvellement des modes de domination davantage fondés sur la compétition marchande justifiant une flexibilité temporelle et spatiale, et une disponibilité permanente. L’observation comparative des situations d’employé-e-s a permis de dégager des processus sociaux communs de résistance à une discipline de boutique, qui prenaient plusieurs formes selon l’expérience et les modalités des échanges réciproques au travail. La formation du processus conflictuel résulte de deux dynamiques de socialisation salariale, l’une individuelle, conduisant à la revendication de droits, et l’autre, intersubjective, productrice d’une représentation de possibilités d’agir social sur la précarité du statut au travail.<p><p>Titre en Anglais<p><p>Inferiorized work status and “salarial” conflict. Store employees in France and Belgium<p><p><p>RESUMÉ DE LA THÈSE EN ANGLAIS<p><p> Our dissertation aimed at showing the links between the strengthening of the establishment of hierarchy at work and the modes of resistance to a subaltern status. We studied a constantly renewing working space in France and Belgium: retail trade stores (ready-to-wear). Sociology works on the increasing lack of job security rarely investigated the work relations in these particular types of structures, in which the limited number of employees is a deciding characteristic, in particular young women. The passage from an independent trade to a rationalized « mass stores » trade lead to a transformation of the framing conditions. There has been a change from the small boss to the salaried manager. This new and invisible relation to the employer leads to a renewal of the modes of domination now based more on the market competition justifying a temporal and space flexibility, and permanent. The comparative observation of the situations of employees in France and Belgium allowed us to shed light on shared social processes of resistance to the store discipline, which take different shapes depending on the experience and the modes of reciprocal exchange at work. The development of the conflict process ensues from two dynamics of socialization ;one is an individual one that leads to a capacity to claim rights ;and one is an intersubjective, producing a representation of possible social act to the precarious status. <p><p> / Doctorat en Sciences politiques et sociales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This study was undertaken to investigate the motivation, intention, self-efficacy, culture, business support,entrepreneurial orientation and business performance of South African and immigrant entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Gauteng province. The performance of the SMEs was investigated, and the reasons and gaps that have led to the assumed low competitive ranking and poor performance of South African entrepreneurs compared to immigrant entrepreneurs were analysed. A structured research instrument (questionnaire) was used to collect data through interviews and a self-administered survey. A total of 466 questionnaires out of 500 questionnaires that had been distributed to respondents by six fieldworkers were returned (93.2%) for analysis.A number of hypotheses were postulated to address the study aims and the collected data were analysed to answer the hypotheses. The results of the study showed a significant correlation between motivation and business performance (a motivated entrepreneur is more likely to succeed in business than an unmotivated entrepreneur) and a significant positive correlation between culture and motivation to start a business (a culture that is supportive of entrepreneurial activities, lowuncertainty avoidance, high individualism and lowpower distance relates positively to a high level of entrepreneurial self-efficacy).The results also showed a significant difference between the mean values of business performance and the education of the owner. It is suggested that the government creates a favourable climate to allow entrepreneurs to release their potential. The government can help by making complex legislation easier for start-ups and reducing the tax burden on new entrepreneurs. / Business Management / D. Comm. (Business Management)

It is widely accepted that street trading is a survivalist activity that yields low profits. Few, if any, studies investigate how much profit is earned; intra-household allocation; and contribution of this income towards households needs. Therefore, a glaring omission in street trading literature is a critical evaluation of the contribution of street trading to household food and livelihood security. A major strength and original contribution of this study to the wider context is the analysis of street trading as a household food and livelihood security coping strategy. This study investigated whether street traders had sufficient food for household consumption; whether street trading reduced vulnerability to hunger; and determined how income from street trading was spent by households. Seven innovative participatory tools applied through a unique research design, were used to elicit business; household and demographic information. Five fruit and vegetable vendors; three clothing and cosmetics; two food; one telephone service; and one video vendor participated. Street traders were categorised into four food security groups according to increasing Coping Strategy Index scores. These were: two traders in a seemingly food secure group; five in the relatively food secure group; four in the relatively food insecure group; and one in the food insecure group. The use of innovative participatory research tools led to several findings. Types of goods sold did not determine profitability, but profitability determined household food security. As household income decreased, Coping Strategy Index scores increased. This finding implied sufficient access to food for household consumption was determined primarily by income levels ranging from R250 to R10 000 per month. Low income traders used severe coping strategies and were more food insecure than other traders. The middle income traders used intermediate coping strategies while the high income group used less severe strategies or did not apply food security coping strategies such as eating less preferred foods. This study found that child dependents and unemployed household members increased household food insecurity. Risk sharing networks among street traders played a key role in accessing cash for food and the sustainability of the micro-enterprises. Social grants reduced household food insecurity and provided a cash safety net for economic activity. Assets reduced hunger and provided crisis security. The study has shown that street trading supplemented low income levels for pensioners and low income earners. Street trading was a primary livelihood strategy for people who had no access to income from pensions or other/formal employment. The study concluded that income from street trading was vital to improve access to food for household consumption. Street traders who had established customers; and access to material and social assets consumed a greater variety of foods than street traders who were fairly new, lacked access to loans (through family and friends) and owned few or no material assets. All participating street traders began trading as a coping strategy to increase household cash. Their trading evolved into an adaptive or permanent livelihood strategy. Households used a mix of food related coping strategies and street trading was an adaptive strategy, rather than a coping strategy to access sufficient food for household consumption. Participating street traders were survivalists as street trading provided a daily net for subsistence. Although street trading income was barely sufficient to sustain households, it provided much needed income to pay school fees; rent; water and electricity. Street trading is therefore critical to household welfare for participating street traders; but infrastructure and resource constraints trapped street traders in survivalist enterprises and exacerbated their vulnerability to food and livelihood security. This study fills a gap in understanding of street trading behaviour in Raisethorpe. This is the first study to apply participatory research methods to comprehensively explore street trader coping strategies and the first study to attempt to link street trading, livelihood security and food security. It is recommended that municipalities adopt a developmental approach to street trading that includes trading sites with secure tenure and infrastructure such as shelter; tables; water and sanitation. Policy reform in terms of issuing trading permits and developing regulations for renting trading sites is imperative. Since this study found that profitability determined household food security, business advice and skills training should be provided for all street traders to promote business sustainability and profitability. A final recommendation is that street trading be recognised as a survivalist strategy that requires further investigation and policy measures to improve income and ensure food security for vulnerable groups. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

This study explored processes, marketing and management styles employed by stall holders at the roadside markets of Umkhanyakude municipal area. The first aim of the study was to find types of traditional artifacts that are commonly sold at the roadside markets. The second aim was to find out if the members of roadside markets were aware of their target market. The third aim was to uncover the marketing strategies employed and the understanding of their principles by the respondents in relation to the success with their sales. Nine roadside markets were visited out of which only seven were willing to be investigated. From each roadside market 50% of the members present at the time of research formed the sample for this study. Focus group discussions were held with the management committees. These discussions were looking at the management and policy issues followed by roadside markets when employing the marketing principles in their daily operations. The research was conducted by using personal observations of the roadside markets by the researcher, focus group discussions which involved discussions between the researcher and the management structures of the various roadside markets, attending meetings to enable a critical understanding of the level at which the markets operate, and a questionnaire that was administered to the stallholders of the seven markets. The combination of qualitative and quantitative research provided a framework of how the roadside markets operate in promoting and selling their products to customers. A questionnaire translated into Isizulu was used and the results were analyzed using the SSPS model. Findings suggested that the roadside markets have their marketing strategies of which some are basically the marketing mix and some originate from their way of life. The members of the roadside markets have a lesser understanding of the marketing strategy in relation to product development and packaging, costing and pricing, promotion and target market awareness. The management teams of the markets with an understanding of business management knowledge were instrumental in contributing to better performance of the markets. Management committees that had been exposed to capacity building and training showed better skill levels compared to those that had not had the exposure. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

This study was undertaken to investigate the motivation, intention, self-efficacy, culture, business support,entrepreneurial orientation and business performance of South African and immigrant entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Gauteng province. The performance of the SMEs was investigated, and the reasons and gaps that have led to the assumed low competitive ranking and poor performance of South African entrepreneurs compared to immigrant entrepreneurs were analysed. A structured research instrument (questionnaire) was used to collect data through interviews and a self-administered survey. A total of 466 questionnaires out of 500 questionnaires that had been distributed to respondents by six fieldworkers were returned (93.2%) for analysis.A number of hypotheses were postulated to address the study aims and the collected data were analysed to answer the hypotheses. The results of the study showed a significant correlation between motivation and business performance (a motivated entrepreneur is more likely to succeed in business than an unmotivated entrepreneur) and a significant positive correlation between culture and motivation to start a business (a culture that is supportive of entrepreneurial activities, lowuncertainty avoidance, high individualism and lowpower distance relates positively to a high level of entrepreneurial self-efficacy).The results also showed a significant difference between the mean values of business performance and the education of the owner. It is suggested that the government creates a favourable climate to allow entrepreneurs to release their potential. The government can help by making complex legislation easier for start-ups and reducing the tax burden on new entrepreneurs. / Business Management / D. Comm. (Business Management)

[Partial abstract]: This study was carried out to determine the contribution of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to household total income, other livelihood sectors were also examined simultaneously. The contribution of agriculture involved livestock and crop production. Wages and government grants were other livelihood sectors that were looked into. This study was important in determining the change in livelihood strategies in the last decade and to quantify the NTFPs used at the two sites. It was carried out in Guquka and Koloni, both part of the central Eastern Cape. Information on direct use value of the NTFPs used, the quantities and local price; crop production outputs and inputs and the costs. Data were collected via a questionnaire.

L’idée de la législation sociale est contemporaine de l’émergence d’un droit protecteur des travailleurs puisqu’il traduit la volonté politique de faire appliquer ses normes pour que chaque homme accède à un travail décent. Principe au demeurant fécond, puisqu’il a pour corollaire celui de l’égalité de traitement, la régulation des rapports sociaux et la satisfaction du besoin de justice et de paix sociale <p>Dés lors, conçu pour les grandes industries, le droit du travail a pu croître et embellir pendant les trente Glorieuses, porté par une croissance économique sans précédent et structuré sur le modèle de la révolution industrielle, l’univers du travail s’étant trouvé modifié en profondeur.<p>Seulement, ce bon vieux temps est révolu :actuellement les entreprises se restructurent profondément et un fort courant d’internationalisation des marchés et de mutations techniques et technologiques ont ébranlé les acquits sociaux :Ainsi, précarité, contrat de sous-traitance, externalisation de la main d’œuvre sont désormais les contraintes majeures qu’il faut prendre en compte pour déterminer les relations de travail. <p>Au cœur de ses déconvenues se trouve l’inspection du travail et les lois organisant les relations professionnelles qui ne peuvent se définir que par rapport à une réalité, laquelle dépend des intérêts des employés et de la régulation des mécanismes du marché. <p>Dans cette perspective, l’amélioration du sort des hommes au travail apparait ainsi comme un effet naturel de la croissance économique et de l’application effective de cette législation sociale. <p>Partant de ce constat, c’est d’une réflexion portant sur le lien existant entre le développement progressif du droit du travail et le concept de contrôle et de conciliation dont il sera question dans le cadre de notre thèse. <p>En effet, face à la régulation des rapports sociaux, principalement dans les rapports entre employeurs et salariés, l’inspection du travail en Tunisie, s’est forgé progressivement une identité forte de considération car débordant le domaine de la protection ouvrière au sens étroit du terme, son rôle qui puise sa source dans le caractère généraliste de cette institution, va en dépasser la structure. Elle ne peut pas ne pas toucher à l’application concrète de la règle, et par conséquent au rôle de l’inspecteur du travail, acteur clé de l’exécution de ses lois. <p>A ses missions traditionnelles, 1'exigence de la paix sociale en Tunisie ajoutait celle, toute nouvelle, de rapprocher les parties sur le terrain, en essayant de convertir au droit les plus sceptiques et de hâter l’intégration du syndicat dans la stratégie de développement. <p>Avec un effort de consolidation de quelques années, plus précisément depuis 1976, l’inspection tunisienne du travail intervient dans un champ particulier dans le domaine de conciliation. <p>Cette institution deviendra l’un des rouages essentiels de la pacification sociale. Tel un coupe-circuit empêchant la solidarité base de la paix sociale de disjoncter, elle sera tout à la fois le reflet des insuffisances des pouvoirs publics et celui des revendications ouvrières.<p>Chose étrange, 1'Inspection ne trouvera pourtant que fort peu d'appui hors de son sein, comme si la nature même de sa mission sociale 1'exposait sans défense aux critiques les plus virulentes. <p>Les nombreux problèmes et dysfonctionnement que connaît actuellement l’inspection du travail, certains sont fort anciens, notamment ceux liés à l’insuffisance de moyens face à l’élargissement des prérogatives, aux réalités rencontrées surtout que ces fonctions sont indissociables de l’action de l’Inspection du travail et d’autres problèmes de fond lié à un dysfonctionnement organisationnel ou un malaise latent inhérent selon certains à l’évolution des missions de l’inspection du travail. Dans cette perspective le problème s’accentue davantage puisque la définition du champ d’intervention de l’inspection du travail, de son rôle bascule entre deux fonctions. <p>La première fonction est le contrôle qui témoigne plutôt, d'une conception généraliste la seconde concerne la conciliation exprimant une extension des missions et caractérise 1'essor autour d’un consensus que l’Etat veut imprimer sur les relations du travail. Cependant, si le rôle de l’inspecteur du travail avait acquis une crédibilité certaine par ses attributions de contrôleur en lui permettant de préserver sa légitimité institutionnelle, la situation est tout autre aujourd’hui :l’histoire se renouvelle et on va reprocher à l’inspecteur de porter une vision de la société étriquée et plutôt traditionnelle. <p>Ainsi, l’étendue des prérogatives confiées à l’inspecteur dans la conciliation et le conseil le place dans une position stratégique car ne se limitant plus à normaliser les dispositifs des relations professionnelles ou à promouvoir les démarches globales de contrôle, mais plutôt à accompagner et à anticiper les évolutions des relations professionnelles. <p>L'examen du fonctionnement de l’inspection du travail, avec la prise en compte des caractéristiques du métier de l’inspecteur du travail et de sa composition, nous permettra de mettre l’accent sur le degré d’adaptation et d’efficacité de cette institution, caractérisant fondamentalement le rôle que l’Etat entend jouer dans la régulation des rapports sociaux et principalement dans les rapports entre employeurs et salariés. <p> / Doctorat en sciences sociales, Orientation sciences du travail / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This thesis attempts to understand the concepts of social capital and social networks within the South African government’s current policy on “human settlements”. It considers the association between social networks, social capital and social cohesion, community development and improved general quality of life. The thesis also explores the possibility and challenges of using social capital and social networks amongst low income urban communities as a viable strategy against poverty and for the development of sustainable human settlements. The thesis will examine the nature and form in which informal social networks function in a low income urban community in South Africa and the benefits that arise from these. The thesis particularly looked at informal social security networks in the form of savings clubs/stokvels and burial societies as well as other informal social networks such as religious associations and neighbourhood social support groups. The study discovered that in light of the high unemployment rate, high poverty levels and increasing urban economic pressures, most low income households cannot access or rely on social networks as a means of survival but on grants and wages. Social security networks are only accessible to those who can afford monthly membership contributions thereby excluding the poorest of the poor. For those who can afford to be members of social security networks, the benefits are limited and they do not adequately address household needs. The study also showed how those who cannot afford to be members of social security networks still have access to some sort of communal social support. Neighbours stand out as valuable in this regard. However, the casual neighbourhood support networks are not ‘resource rich’ mainly due to, the inability of people to donate and reciprocate. Religious networks are mainly identified with emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being, providing friendship, comfort and advice but these benefits are only provided to members only in their time of need. The theoretical understanding of social networks producing social capital which is seen as being beneficial to the poorest of the poor is questioned, as the results show the inequalities and divisions that exist within informal social networks themselves. On the other hand, all the social networks considered in this thesis have managed to contribute towards strengthening neighbourly relations, trust, building community identity and promoting values of ubuntu- sharing and caring for one another which in the long-run benefits the community, both members and non-members alike.