ILO and Ministry of Economy exchange on the Social and Solidarity Economy in Guatemala
13 March 2025
The International Labour Organization (ILO) presented a study on the Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) in Guatemala, highlighting key actors and the impact of current policies on the SSE in the country, and establishing a baseline for future interventions. The study is aligned with ILO and UN resolutions on the SSE, and with national commitments to promote inclusive and sustainable economic models.
Guatemala City (ILO News) – On March 5, 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, presented a mapping study on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) in Guatemala. The study identifies key stakeholders, assesses the impact of current policies, and establishes a baseline to facilitate future interventions and strengthening of the sector in the country.
The presentation took place during an event attended by representatives from the government and employers’ and workers’ organizations, as well as cooperatives, producer associations, women’s organizations, marketing and fair-trade networks, and international cooperation partners in Guatemala.
The study aligns with the United Nations resolutions of April 2023 and November 2024 on “Promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy for Sustainable Development”. It also supports the Ministry of Economy’s commitment to strengthening the SSE as an inclusive and sustainable economic model, which is framed within the 2024-2028 General Government Policy to promote a human-centred economy in Guatemala.
Furthermore, the study aligns with the ILO’s Resolution concerning decent work and the social and solidarity economy, adopted at the 110th session of the International Labour Conference in June 2022. This resolution defines the SSE based on principles of voluntary cooperation and mutual aid, democratic and/or participatory governance, autonomy and independence, and the primacy of people and social purpose over capital in the distribution and use of surpluses and/or profits as well as assets.
During the study presentation, the Director of the ILO Office for Central America, Haiti, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, Eliel Hasson, emphasized that the ILO recognizes the strategic role of the SSE, which serves as a key tool to strengthen local economies in Guatemala.
“At the ILO, we reaffirm our commitment to working alongside the government, employer and worker representatives, and all organizations (cooperatives, mutual societies) that are part of the SSE in Guatemala. Our goal is to build a more inclusive, sustainable economic model based on social justice and decent work,” the Director added.
Key findings of the study
The Study on the Social and Solidarity Economy in Guatemala provides crucial insights into the sector’s impact and opportunities. According to the study, SSE entities in the country include cooperatives, producer associations and associative rural enterprises, mutual societies, and municipal associations that operate according to SSE values and principles.
Rodrigo Mogrovejo, a specialist in sustainable enterprises, skills development, and just transition at the ILO Office for Central America, Haiti, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, highlighted that “SSE entities aspire to long-term viability and sustainability and to the transition from the informal to the formal economy, and they operate across all sectors. They uphold intrinsic values that prioritize people and the planet, equality and justice, interdependence, self-governance, transparency, accountability, and the achievement of decent work and livelihoods.”
The study also identifies the lack of consensus on SSE in Guatemala. Interviews with different sectors revealed that many entities within the SSE do not self-define or recognize themselves in this way. Another key finding underscores the need for simplified concepts and definitions, such as using the term “social economy” to contextualize SSE in Guatemala. The definition established by the ILO’s 2022 Resolution on Decent Work and the SSE may serve as a useful reference.
The study also presents recommendations for various stakeholders:
- Government of Guatemala: Create a favourable institutional, regulatory, and financial environment to support the development and expansion of the SSE.
- SSE entities: Promote territorial integration and cooperation by optimizing resources, facilitating project management, and enhancing inter-institutional coordination.
- Employers’ organizations: Strengthen SSE by establishing marketing networks that connect responsible consumers with solidarity enterprises, thereby fostering strategic alliances between large companies and SSE enterprises to ensure ethical and sustainable value chains.
- Workers’ organizations: Strengthen and guarantee union representation to protect, support and defend workers’ rights in the SSE. Furthermore, offer advice to SSE entities, especially to those in their early stages, facilitate the supply of SSE goods and services to union members, and contribute to the establishment of SSE entities where appropriate.
- In general, promote the inclusion of women in leadership positions within SSE entities.
- Representatives of international cooperation in Guatemala: Strengthen capacities, generate evidence and promote inclusive public policies, and integrate SSE entities into national and international markets.