Promoting Co-operatives

In 2002, the International Labour Conference adopted a new ‘Recommendation’ – an international policy guideline which provides a framework for co-operatives for the 21st century.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the quest for economic progress often failed to recognise the potential of co-operatives. Instead they were frequently portrayed as models from a previous era that had ’served their time’. Now the extraordinary power of the simple idea of co-operatives – democratically owned and controlled enterprises, serving their members’ needs and rooted in their communities – is again proving popular, as co-operatives demonstrate themselves to be 21st century businesses.

The Guide to ILO Recommendation 193 is intended for those who want to know more about the recommendation and how it provides a basis for law and policies on co-operatives. It also shows how and why we need to campaign for co-operatives.

A pdf version of the guide can be viewed here.

Promoting Co-operatives

You can also find more information on the ILO website and in this bulletin.