Cooperatives

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A cooperative is 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.

The ILO views cooperatives as important in improving the living and working conditions of women and men globally as well as making essential infrastructure and services available even in areas neglected by the state and investor-driven enterprises. Cooperatives have a proven record of creating and sustaining employment – they are estimated to provide at least 250 million jobs today; they contribute to promoting decent work and advancing sustainable development goals. The ILO activities are guided by the international standard on cooperatives, the ILO Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation, 2002 (No.193).

As people-centered, principle driven, member owned businesses cooperatives have a long tradition of promoting equality.

Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General, International Day of Cooperatives 2015

What's new

  1. News

    ILO supports the establishment of the new Palestinian cooperative agency

    23 April 2018

  2. News

    Interview with COPAC Board Member Bruno Roelants on statistics of cooperatives

    23 April 2018

  3. News

    Interview with Ramin Behzad, member of COPAC Technical Working Group on Statistics of Cooperatives

    23 April 2018

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Highlights for April

  1. Cooperatives and the Word of Work

    April 2018

    The cooperative advantage for people with disabilities

  2. Area of Work

    April  2018

    Youth Employment 

  3. Resources on Care Provision through Cooperatives

    April 2018

    Care Provision through Cooperatives

Featured publications

  1. eNewsletter

  2. Cooperatives and the World of Work Series 

  3. Statistics on Cooperatives Countries in Focus series

  4. Cooperative legislation and policy

Spotlight interview with co-operators

  1. Advancing women’s cooperatives in Turkey

    08 March 2018

  2. Promoting cooperatives through a global multi-stakeholder partnership

    05 March 2018

  3. Interview with Trebor Scholz – connecting cooperatives to the future of work, digitally

    09 February 2018

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Training Resources

  2. Social and Solidarity Economy Academy

Videos

  1. Cooperatives ensure no one is left behind

COOP Champions

  1. COOP Champions

    Sandra Yu, ILO DWT Bangkok

    29 November 2017

    COOP Champions features ILO colleagues from around the world working on cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy enterprises. It highlights their contributions, and shares highlights of their experiences, current work, and future aspirations.

  2. COOP Champions

    Yumi Nabeshima, ILO Tokyo

    26 September 2017

    COOP Champions features ILO colleagues from around the world working on cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy enterprises. It highlights their contributions, and shares highlights of their experiences, current work, and future aspirations.

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