The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a health, economic and care crisis for all workers including those in the informal economy. This article draws on data from the first round of a mixed-methods longitudinal study conducted (in June 2020) by the research advocacy network Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) in partnership with informal workers’ organizations in 12 cities. It assesses the impact of the multidimensional crisis on care responsibilities and the resulting effect on livelihoods and food security. A gendered analysis of paid work and unpaid care work sheds light on the unique features of the current ‘pandemic recession's’ impact on the world's labour force.