EU2020: “An agenda for new skills and jobs”

How co-operatives help:

Co-operatives create and maintain sustainable employment. They provide 5.4 million jobs to European citizens and over 100 million jobs around the world – 20% more than multinational enterprises . Equal pay for equal work, fair balance of genders in managerial positions, promotion of diversity, inclusion programs for disabled employees, as well as for the youngest and seniors; these are some of the initiatives taken by co-operatives.

• Co-operatives dedicate a substantial part of their resources to education and training of their staff; so workers enjoy a high level of job security because their skills are less likely to become obsolete;
• Industrial and services co-operatives which are known as “worker co-operatives”, are a strong additional element by which labour flexibility and security can be fully combined;
• Co-operatives provide sustainable employment to disadvantaged workers such as disabled, the long-term unemployed and socially marginalised persons;
• Co-operatives have proven successes in “workers buy-outs” ensuring the survival of jobs and even local skills. In times of crisis, when companies threatened by bankruptcies and closures, such a system is a solution that maintains existing jobs;
• With an equity ethos, participatory decision-making and common ownership, co-operatives expand opportunities for gender equality and women’s participation and involvement in local economies and societies.