The year 2015 has seen 4% more worker co-operatives being set up in Spain. The new worker co-operatives have provided 8,533 new jobs. The figures were revealed at the General Assembly of the Spanish Confederation of Worker Co-operatives in Murcia (Confederación Española de Cooperativas de Trabajo Asociado - COCETA).
In addition, the jobs generated by worker co-operatives are more likely to be stable, long-term positions. “In terms on the type of contract, in 82% of cases jobs are for full working days,” said Juan Antonio Pedreño, president of COCETA. New co-operatives also tend to attract more young people. According to COCETA’s figures, 80% of the employees are under 35 years. Spain also leads in Europe in terms of enterprises saved by having employees taking over the firm.
Around 40 enterprises in difficult financial circumstances were converted into worker co-operatives in 2015. COCETA expects that by the end of 2015 over 1,500 new co-operatives would have been created in Spain, providing 10,000 new jobs, an increase of 35% from 2015.
