SDG series – SDG 8 – Cooperatives for Decent Work and Economic Growth

The International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025 continues under the banner “Cooperatives Build a Better World”. Our movement plays a vital role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8): Decent Work and Economic Growth.

In the latest edition of the policy brief series — Building a Better World Together: Cooperative Contributions to the SDGs – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all — co-produced by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), COPAC, and the ICA regional offices, the focus shifts to how cooperatives create quality jobs and drive inclusive local economies.

Creating Work That Works for People

Across the world, people face rising inequality, job insecurity, and exploitation in the informal economy. Cooperatives challenge this by offering stable employment rooted in shared ownership and democratic values.

The Cooperative Difference: Economic Empowerment with Integrity

The brief highlights how cooperatives contribute to SDG 8 by:

• Creating stable, quality jobs with fair wages and conditions

• Empowering women, youth, and marginalised groups through employment and training

• Strengthening local economies through reinvestment and community ownership

• Ensuring worker protection and ethical practices through democratic governance

These features allow cooperatives to combine productivity with purpose, showing that decent work and economic success can go hand in hand.

European Action in Focus: GOEL – Cooperative Group, Italy

In Calabria, Italy, the GOEL Cooperative Group shows how cooperatives can be a force for economic renewal and social justice. Founded in 2003 to resist the influence of organised crime, GOEL has grown into a network of cooperatives and associations working in agriculture, health, tourism, fashion, and beyond.

GOEL’s model supports fair employment while actively promoting inclusion. Its initiatives include:

• GOEL Welfare, which provides shelter and training for migrants and vulnerable groups

• Cangiari, an ethical fashion brand that brings traditional textile work by marginalised women into Italy’s high-end fashion market

• A due diligence framework launched in 2023 with IFOAM to uphold decent work in high-risk areas, including through surprise inspections

GOEL’s work shows how cooperatives can strengthen communities, challenge systemic injustice, and create jobs that are both meaningful and resilient.

Closing Gaps, Shaping Policy

Despite their clear contribution, cooperatives often lack recognition and support in employment and economic strategies. To change this, the policy brief calls for:

• Better legal frameworks that recognise cooperatives as key economic actors

• More tailored finance for cooperative initiatives

• Investment in training and data to better measure cooperatives’ impact on decent work

The Time to Act is Now

The IYC 2025 is a key moment to amplify the cooperative voice in shaping the future of work. Cooperatives Europe stands ready to work with members, partners, and policymakers to push for an economy that works for people, not just profit.

Go to the COPAC website

📄 Download the full policy brief here

This article has been co-funded by the European Union. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of  Cooperatives Europe and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.