New booklet a boost for co-ops worldwide

THE Co-operative College has launched a guide to promote and establish a stronger framework for co-operatives worldwide.
Launched at the House of Commons in association with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the booklet, Promoting Co-operatives, is based on Recommendation 193 of the ILO.
The Recommendation is an international policy guideline providing a framework for co-operatives. The guide explains how the Recommendation can help create an environment in which co-ops can flourish, by identifying key components of law and policies on co-ops. It also shows why campaigning for such legal safeguards for co-ops is necessary.
Guest speaker at the launch, head of the ILO&#039s Co-operatives branch, Jurgen Schwettmann, said: "Until today we lacked a tool to help our constituents, partners and colleagues translate the provisions of the Recommendation into improvements at the policy, legal, institutional and managerial levels.
"This new guide will contribute to the growth of genuine, economically viable and socially responsible co-ops, with the ultimate objective of fighting poverty through creating opportunities, providing security, and empowering people."
Pauline Green, Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK and President of ICA Europe, added: "In many parts of Central and Eastern Europe, it is vitally important that the legislative framework is improved to give co-operatives a level playing field with other forms of business. ILO Recommendation 193 is an important part of this process, and this guide will be a tremendous help to co-ops in reviewing their legal framework."
Labour/Co-op MP Gareth Thomas, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development, said: "This guide is a crucial publication. Poverty is the greatest moral challenge facing the world today, and there is enormous potential for co-ops to help meet that challenge, yet that potential is not being fully realised."
Iain MacDonald, Director General of the ICA, added: "I am confident this guide will help co-operators, workers, employers and officials to realise the importance of the Recommendation and how it can be used."
"We needed a tool to turn the instrument into practice," concluded Mr Schwettmann. "That is now available thanks to the close collaboration between the Co-operative College, the ICA and the ILO, and the Strategic Grant Agreement sponsored by DFID. We are extremely grateful to our partners for this support."
To order a copy, or for more information, please contact the Co-operative College on 0161 246 2926.