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Guidance and resources for the cooperative, social and solidarity economy

SSE: Legislation and policy

Central to ILO’s mandate is a system of international labour standards that promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity. There is a renaissance of interest in cooperatives, as democratically owned and controlled enterprises, in achieving socially inclusive sustainable development. ILO’s Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation, 2002 (No. 193) has proven to be highly relevant for the revival of cooperative enterprises in many parts of the world.

2 July 2018

In recent years, there has been a re-emergence of interest in cooperatives. As democratically owned and controlled enterprises, cooperatives are well placed in supporting the achievement of inclusive sustainable development. To achieve this, cooperatives require an enabling environment to support the growth of cooperatives taking into consideration the special character of the cooperative model of enterprise, its goals and contributions to the economic and social development of local communities and countries.

Central to ILO’s mandate is a system of international labour standards that promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity. ILO activities on cooperative enterprises are guided by the international standard on cooperatives, the ILO Recommendation on the Promotion of Cooperatives, 2002 (No. 193). This Recommendation has proven to be highly relevant for the revival of cooperative enterprises in many parts of the world. Since its adoption, more than 110 countries have used the Recommendation to support the revision and development of national policies and laws, and it has contributed to a number of regional and subregional uniform model laws.

In addition, the ILO is receiving a growing number of requests from its constituents for support in developing social and solidarity economy legislation and policies. In responding to these requests a number of development cooperation projects have been launched.


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