workers associations and trade unions can be significant elements of civil society holding the state accountable for the rights and interests of people in poverty the example of the selfemployed women s association sewa in india shows how the specific employment conditions of women pieceworking in the formal and informal sector can be improved and their interests reflected through collective action and negotiation if marginalised however they may engage in political or violent activities that threaten these goals good practice note empowerment in fragile states and situations of fragility child labour both in household production and in the paid labour market is a frequent livelihood strategy for poor families particularly when coping with natural or economic shocks