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The ICA's sectoral organisation for worker co-operatives, Cicopa has released a set of policy recommendations aimed at deepening co-operative development.
The guidelines are based on Recommendation 193 of the International Labour Organisation and tackle three aspects of co-operative development: legal framework, business transfer to employees and enterprise grouping.
The recommendations state that public authorities should take into account the World Declaration on Worker Co-operatives when they are introducing new laws for worker co-operatives. Cicopa further encourages policy makers to take into account the World Standards of Social Co-operatives approved by CICOPA General Assembly in Cancun in 2011.
The document also stipulates that worker co-operatives should meet the criteria of decent work, required by the ILO Recommendation 193 on the Promotion of Cooperatives.
According to Cicopa, national legislation should make it compulsory for all co-ops to dedicate a percentage of their turnover to help to establish new co-operatives.
Cicopa also envisages the business transfer to employees as an appropriate solution that might lead to saving jobs, economic activities or local skills. The organisation also adds that trade unions should be involved in assessing the feasibility of transformation into a co-operative and that bankruptcy training for concerned professionals and a better understanding of how co-ops work is essential.
Cicopa’s recommendations read: “Inter-small and medium enterprises international collaborative networks under the co-operative form should also be encouraged, specifically in strategic sectors.
They also state that employees should be given preferential rights to make sure they have the best conditions to develop a takeover bid. The organisation also encourages the creation of mutualised business support institutions and of international funds for support and promotion of collaboration among co-ops from different countries.
