Equality in Spanish worker co-ops

Women in Spain can obtain better jobs and feel better working in co-operatives than in other types of business, according to research from Coceta, the Spanish Confederation of Worker Cooperatives....

Women in Spain can obtain better jobs and feel better working in co-operatives than in other types of business, according to research from Coceta, the Spanish Confederation of Worker Cooperatives.

In Spanish co-operatives, 49% of the workers are women, which is 12% higher than any other types of enterprise. The percentage of senior positions held by women is 39%, compared with 6%  in other types of organisations. On average, Spanish women earn around 18% less than men for the same kind of job, but in worker co-operatives there is no wage gap.

Furthermore, 86.9% of worker co-operatives in Spain have specific programs for gender equality, and Coceta’s survey shows that around 80% of the women who took part believe that their co-operative helps them to obtain executive positions.

But there are still challenges regarding equality, says the organisation, especially around the numbers of men and women achieving senior positions.

This year, COCETA is also planning to resume the publication of its Women Review Magazine, which had previously been cancelled due to the financial crisis.

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