A cooperative is defined as an "autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise."
ILO Recommendation 193
Feature
A non-profit organization set up in response to the devastation caused by cyclone Nargis employs women to run small businesses that benefit poor communities.
Article
A recent seminar organized by the ILO’s Bureau for Workers’ Activities and the ILO’s Cooperative Branch brought together researchers and practitioners from around the world to talk about some of the issues and experiences that cooperatives are facing today.
Event
Under the aegis of the International Journal of Labour Research, ACTRAV and COOP/EMP are holding a seminar on the theme of the relationship between trade unions and worker cooperatives.
Statement
Press release
Cooperatives and social enterprises can help expand decent work and job opportunities, says ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder.
Analysis
A new ILO book says that financial cooperatives fared better than the big investor-owned banks during the economic crisis.
Report
This report reviews the performance of financial cooperatives, looking in particular at the aftermath of the 2007-2008 crisis and the continuing long austerity period. It explains why financial cooperatives have proven to be more resilient pointing to the specificities of the cooperative model of enterprise.
Event
This conference is being jointly organized with UNRISD and will take place in the ILO, Geneva.
Book
Provides guidance to policy and lawmakers as well as other stakeholders to update existing and draft new cooperative legislation
Fact sheet
This issue brief produced during the International Year of Cooperatives 2012 highlights how and why the cooperative form of enterprise can cater to the economic and social needs of persons with disabilities.
Fact sheet
Information brief on cooperatives
External links
External links
Feature
As the International Year of Cooperatives draws to an end, ILO News looks at how cooperatives in Turkey offer customers easier and safer access to medicines.
Instructional Material
This handbook lists the essential things to know about cooperatives for all those who are interested as members, future members, politicians or staff of national or international institutions in charge of the promotion and development of cooperatives. In simple, understandable language, the handbook deals in turn with the characteristic features of cooperatives, cooperative enterprise as a whole, the promotion of cooperatives and the close ties that exist between the ILO and cooperatives.
This SYNDICOOP Handbook is designed to help replicate the approach by serving as a resource for trade union and cooperative organizers and trainers. It was finalized by members of the International Steering Committee of the SYNDICOOP Programme, mainly comprising representatives from the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ICFTU now ITUC), the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and ILO together with National Steering Committee members from all four programme countries as well as project staff.
Provides guidance on how to draft cooperative law.