Abstract:
This study was conducted to investigate the situation of rural youth migrants to Khartoum state who work in the informal sector. The study is explanatory and descriptive in nature which provides numerical description of some part of the population and explains events using comprehensive questionnaire directed to migrant youth work in three local markets inKhartoum State. The study utilized quantitative and qualitative approaches and followed cross-section design.The study area comprises three local markets in Khartoum state, Omdurman market located in Omdurman, SaadGeshra market located in Khartoum North (Bahri) and SouqEL.Shabiee Khartoum located in Khartoum. A sample of 300 male youth migrants were selected based on three informal activities as follows mobilize workers, shops boys and business owner. It was difficult to develop sample frame for this study. We used non random sampling;(Purposive and snow ball techniques.
The study findings indicated that majority of migrant youth were less than 19 years old, 48% of youth before migration were without work while 27.3% were dropped out from education and 22.7% worked as farmers. 88% of the male youth migrated searching for a job for a better lifetheir socio-economic situation characterized by vulnerability, poverty and low skill to get the job outside of the informal sector. Migrant youth were self-employed in informal sector because they did not have the possibility of joining the formal sector.The self-employed identified by the study were three activities mobile workers, shop boys and small business owner.
Results also indicated that youth in informal sector challenged by the lack of protection, low income and no access to capital to improve their self-employed work.61.4 % of migrant youth still could not integrate with people in Khartoum State.
The study indicated migrants youth have limited integration with host community in Khartoum Sate they limited their friendship with theircounterparts in the markets who migrated from different States. Most of migrant faced the difficulties to live in Khartoum but they did not have planned to go back because of the availability of work.
In conclusion, young migrants are more vulnerable when, in combination with their age and stage of life, they face isolation, exclusion, discrimination, and insecurity. Moreover, in the migration process young people can lose their social networks and may also be without parents or family members to provide guidance and care. The study has added new understanding to explore the determinants of self‐employment among rural to urban migrants’ youth in Sudan. The study recommended that Given the weak position many migrants youth in informal jobs have – lacking social protection and capital, both monetary and human – policies and related programs should be tailored to create more opportunities for youth to be employed in formal jobs. This is especially the case for those who are at risk of being left furthest behind, such as those with no education, no access to finance, and no contributions to pensions or old-age insurance.