The ICA-AP regional office is bringing the perspective of Asia-Pacific members into the conversation around the 33rd Congress theme, Deepening the Cooperative Identity, through online consultations, events, articles, and interviews.
To mark International Workers’ Day on 1st May and World Fairtrade Day on 8th May, the April issue on the theme, Cooperative Identity and Strengthening Workers in the Value Chain, focuses on how cooperative identity can help strengthen the labour and fairtrade movements in Asia and Pacific region.
The Labour movement advocates the protection of working people’s rights by forming trade unions or collectives. Similarly, the Fairtrade movement advocates transparent and just trade across the value chain and ensures the rights of the marginalised produces and workers are secured. Both the movements are based on collective action and ensure the welfare of workers and members by promoting equity, justice, equity, and sustainable development. People with common problems and goals come together through these movements to make their voices heard.
Cooperatives, as defined in the Statement on the Cooperative Identity (SCI), are autonomous associations of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. The cooperative values and principles strengthen these labour and fairtrade movements by providing a collective voice, enhancing cooperation among the workers, producers and consumers resulting in fair interactions and trade among these.
In this issue, we present an enriching conversation with Ms. Simel Esim, Programme Manager at the Cooperatives Unit of the International Labour Organisation (ILO COOP). She talks about how ILO engages with cooperatives and the strategies of ILO COOP in the changing world of work post the COVID-19 pandemic. We hear from Mr. Remeshan Palery who is the Chairperson of the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) Ltd., India about how labour cooperatives promote the socio-economic interests of the labours/ workers. Ms. Juhee Lee, the International Team Manager of iCOOP, Korea shares an inspiring case of consumer cooperatives promoting an ethical food chain in Korea by securing the interests of both producers and consumers. We also bring the perspective of our members in Nepal on how the SCI is guiding their day-to-day operations.
We are glad to share with our readers that this years’ theme for the International Day of Cooperatives has been announced. 2021 #COOPSDAY will be celebrated as “Rebuild Better Together” on 3rd July.
