We Are Poor but So Many is a firsthand account of the forming of a women's trade union, the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), in India. The vision and the journey of this unique organization are recounted by its founder, Ela R. Bhatt, who leads us into the lives of poor, self-employed women and their world of work. The book explores basic concepts of labor - what constitutes work and who is a worker - by shining a spotlight on the informal sector and its pivotal role in the economy. It is also a celebration of women workers whose invisible hands support not only families but also a nation's economy.