Co-op News October 2019: Sustainable Development

SDG 08
At Kigali, you will take part in a panel on
innovation in entrepreneurship through the
co-op model. What should delegates expect
from this session?
We will explore what co-ops could contribute
to make the future of work more humane. Many
people now are working independently and often
in isolation, with no opportunity to exchange news
with other colleagues. Workers need to form co-ops
that bring them together, not necessarily physically,
but virtually. For example, translators could build a
network just to have a common brand, and use the
co-op to market their services.
At the same time, the traditional employer/
employee relationship being is replaced in many
instances by a subcontracting relationship where
the employee works for a short period of time on a
specific contract, without much bargaining power.
Workers need co-ops to defend their rights and
negotiate collectively.
You were one of the authors of the recent
book on the future of work marking the ILO’s
centenary. Can you tell us more about your
chapter?
The chapter has three parts. The first looks at
global challenges in terms of demographics, such
as a growing and ageing population; technological
trends, such as digitisation and automation;
economic trends, including globalisation and the
emergence of new economic powers in the global
south; and environmental trends, such as climate
change and resource depletion. The second looks
at the impact of these trends on the world of work.
The chapter portrays a changing world of work,
not necessarily in a negative way, but in a way that
suggests people have to be prepared. The third part
examines how co-ops in developed or developing
countries can take advantage of changes in the
world of work, and counter negative effects.
How can co-ops contribute to the SDGs?
Co-ops can play an important role but it would be
counter-productive to claim they are ideally placed
to achieve all of the 17 SDGs and 169 targets. The
point is to identify those SDG targets to which
co-ops can contribute, specifically because they are
co-ops, and because of their specific values. If you
take that approach, the number of targets that are
co-op-specific is much smaller – I identified 15 in a
paper I worked on two years ago. By concentrating
your effort on fewer targets, you become more
visible. This is just a view.
Are co-ops ambitious enough with the SDGs?
They could take more initiative. When you go to
co-op meetings, often we are speaking to ourselves
and saying co-ops are the best form of enterprise.
What we need to do is to critically analyse our
movement and grow out of the comfort zone.
It is not enough to say that 300 million people are
working in co-ops because outside the co-op world
most people don’t know about it.
How can co-ops bring in like-minded
organisations?
The global co-op movement needs to be more
open and look at other organisations with whom
it can build alliances. Many co-op promoters are
sceptical about the social and solidarity economy;
I am of a different view. They have similar values
and principles as co-ops. They might not be
structured as co-ops but there is nothing wrong
with that. There are common interests and goals.
Right now, I am working on a paper on the
informal economy in Africa; this is abound with
associations, self-help groups, rotating savings and
credit associations and other forms of collective
action. Many of them operate on co-op principles
without calling themselves “co-operative”… The
formal, traditional co-op movement should be more
open to bringing such associations on board and
forming partnerships; much as trade unions are
opening their doors to informal economy workers.
The co-operative movement should also
explore avenues to reinvigorate its partnership
with trade unions, both at global and national
level. And why not also enter into a partnership
with the employers’ organisations? After all,
co-ops are also employers, and they are part of the
private sector.
• Jürgen Schwettman
is an independent
consultant based in
Germany specialised
in co-operative
development. He has
spent 28 years at the
International Labour
Organization, holding
different positions,
including six years as
chief of the co-op unit
44 | OCTOBER 2019