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May, 2017

A critical step toward measuring cooperatives

On May 11 to 12, the ILO hosted the first meeting of COPAC Technical Working Group on Statistics on Cooperatives in Geneva. The meeting brought together over 20 producers and users of statistics on cooperatives from around the world to discuss a conceptual framework for measuring cooperatives. This work will contribute to the discussion on the topic at the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) in October 2018. Over the two days, the discussion focussed on, among other topics, the operational definition of cooperatives, work in cooperatives, membership, value-added, and planning for further work, particularly by bringing in perspectives of producers and users of statistics on cooperatives. >>Read more.

Meeting updates

Delegates to the Asia-Pacific Ministers’ conference adopted a resolution on partnership with cooperatives toward sustainable development

On April 18 to 21, ICA-AP Cooperative Minister’s Conference took place in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The 200 participants from relevant ministries and cooperative movement from the countries in the region adopted the “Draft Hanoi Asia Pacific Co-operative Minister’s Resolution on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. Simel Esim, Head of ILO COOP, participated in the conference to present the ILO’s work on cooperative legislation and policy. She also held a series of meetings with government and cooperative movement representatives from Sri Lanka, Australia, China, India, Nepal, Viet Nam, Iran and Japan around further collaboration. >>Find out more.↗

Cooperatives reflect on the future of work

Simel Esim, Head of ILO COOP, presented at a Cooperatives Europe General Assembly pre-conference workshop, held on April 26 on cooperatives and future of work, and organized by CECOP. In her presentation she reflected on the emerging forms of cooperation in the changing world of work including among self-employed and independent workers. The session was chaired by CECOP President Giuseppe Guerini, an Italian cooperative leader from Confcooperative. Other speakers included Sandrino Graceffa, of Smart.be that organizes freelancers in cooperatives, and Sira Madigata, a Malian refugee and worker at the Italian social cooperative "San Filippo Neri". The Secretary General of CECOP/CICOPA Bruno Roelants shared highlights of their upcoming report on cooperatives and employment. >>Find out more.↗

Cooperatives Europe elects a new president

On April 27, Mr Jean Louis Bancel was elected as the new President of Cooperatives Europe in its 2017 General Assembly hosted by Koperattivi Malta. Mr Bancel is currently also the President of Coop FR, the French national cooperative apex organisation, and Crédit Coopératif, a French cooperative bank. Mr Bancel has indicated his keen interest to explore changing role of cooperatives for the future of work. Mr Bancel will be heading a gender balanced Board of Directors of 13 national members and 4 sectorial members for the next four years. ILO COOP took part in several workshops at the General Assembly on youth and women participation as well as cooperative development. >>Find out more. ↗

COOP Champions

Longstanding cooperation with cooperatives for rural economic development in Viet Nam

COOP Champions features ILO colleagues from around the world working on cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy enterprises. In this issue we present the work of Ms Huyen Nguyen Thi, who has been working with cooperatives for rural economic development and formalization of informal economy in Viet Nam for over ten years. >>Read more.

Spotlight on Cooperatives

A multipurpose and multistakeholder rural cooperative works to preserve the cultural heritage of Malta

Spotlight on Cooperatives showcases innovative cooperative initiatives around the world with which ILO COOP is engaging for knowledge exchange and future collaboration. In this issue, we highlight Koperattiva Rurali Manikata, a multipurpose cooperative working for the interests of local farmers and the protection of natural, historical and social environment in a small village in Malta. >>Read more.

New ILO publications on cooperatives

Rediscovering worker cooperatives in a changing world of work

An article on worker cooperatives by Simel Esim and Waltteri Katajamaki of ILO COOP was published as part of the ILO Future of Work article series in the IUSLabor online journal. The article looks the ways in which worker cooperatives are being used as a response strategy to a changing world of work, including through union engagement, worker buyouts, cooperatives of freelancers as well as cooperatives using online platforms. >>Read more. ↗

Japanese and Spanish versions of the Future of Work Issue Note No. 6

The Future of Work Issue Note “Cooperation in a changing world of work: Towards a cooperative future” is now available in Japanese and Spanish with Turkish and French versions coming up shortly! >>Check them out here.

Noteworthy Resources

A new website for cooperative start-ups in Europe released

Cooperatives Europe released a website for cooperative start-ups called CoopStarter. It provides young entrepreneurs with information on the cooperative model, a step-by-step guide to set up a cooperative, a list of local support points and success stories across Europe. >>Check it out here. ↗

Cooperatives mentioned as key actors in the new EU Consensus on Development

Cooperatives have been recognized as key actors in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, with three distinct mentions in a new EU Consensus on Development. The Consensus provides the framework for a common approach to development policy that will be applied by the EU institutions and the Member States, responding to the 2030 Agenda. >>Find out more.↗

Eleven European countries claim a leading role for the Social Economy

At the Social Economy Summit held in Madrid on May 23, 11 EU countries signed the ‘Madrid Declaration’, calling on the European Commission to place the social economy at the top of the EU’s political agenda. It urges the EU to boost the support for the social economy as a prime business model for a sustainable future, promoting both social and economic cohesion. >> Find out more.↗

A new book by Tom Webb on cooperatives as an alternative to capitalism

Tom Webb’s new book, “From Corporate Globalization to Global Co-operation: We Owe It to Our Grandchildren”, published on September 2016, looks into the potential of cooperatives as successful alternatives to capitalism. >>Find out more.↗

ICMIF Global Mutual Market Share 2015 is out

ICMIF published the 9th edition of Global Mutual Market Share on the size and performance of the global mutual and cooperative insurance industry. It shows that the mutual and cooperative insurance sector served a record 988 million people in 2015. >>Find out more.↗

COOP Staff News

Ms Vasiliki Kanaki joined ILO COOP in May from Greece as an intern to support the work on the development of training materials for start-up cooperatives. >>Read more.

Upcoming event

ILO/JCCU Study Tour for African Cooperative Leaders will take place in Japan, August 28 - September 6

Since 2010, the ILO and the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU) have collaborated on a study tour to support the African cooperative movement to strengthen its capacity by promoting learning with the Japanese cooperatives. This year, five African cooperative leaders will be invited to Japan to participate in the study tour. Applications are now open, with a deadline of June 25, 2017. >>Read more.