More than 200 delegates met in Kozhikode, India for the International Conference on Co-operatives in the Changing World of Work (29 Apr - 1 May 2018). Over three days, academicians, researchers, policy-makers and co-operators from across the world examined how co-operatives are evolving in the changing world of work.
Delegates were welcomed at the event by Dr. Kulbhushan Balooni, Director at Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, India. "I am honoured that our institute has been selected as the host for this renowned conference. Having so many leaders from over ten countries is something we are very proud of. We can learn from each other”, said Dr. Kulbhushan Balooni.
(L-R) Dr. Balooni, Dr. Isaac, Mr. Iyer and Ms. Esim at the inaugural ceremony of the Conference.
Dr. Thomas Isaac, Minister of Finance, Government of Kerala, shared with the audience: “We can never say enough about how much the movement contributed to a better world of work. In fact, the co-operative movement has always been destined to remain a modern movement, always at the forefront of promising social and economic innovations and bringing positive changes in communities and societies across the world of work.”
The global event features key speakers Dr. Simel Esim, Head of the ILO Co-operatives Unit in Geneva and Mr. Balu Iyer, Regional Director at International Co-operative Alliance (Asia-Pacific) who gave a global outlook on economic, social, and environmental changes in the world of work, with a focus on the labour co-operative movement in India. Lead organiser Uralungal Labour Contractor’s Co-operative Society Ltd. was represented by chairman Mr. Rameshan Paleri who discussed the contributions of labourers in creating their 93-year old legacy and successful diversification of the co-operative in recent times.
On April 30, the conference was opened by Ms. Reema Nanavaty, an Indian social worker, known for her humanitarian services as the head of Self-Employed Women's Association of India.
"The Global Commission on Future of Work of the International Labour Organisation, will be bringing out a very strategic and action oriented report on the Future of Work that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals as ILO’s centenary celebration", said Ms. Nanavaty who is a member of the Global Commission on the Future of Work.
Mr. Rangan Dutta IAS (Retd.) gave a speech on the Blueprint to Maximize Employment Generation, he shared with the audience: “New employment policy blueprint will be shaped by economic, social and labour policy interventions and is expected to incentivise employers to create more jobs, introduce economic reforms appealing to companies, along with supporting the medium and small scale industries”
Dr. Mridul Eapen, Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum stated that the world of work is changing, posing significant implications especially for women who have been disadvantaged not only in terms of percentages coming out for work, but also in terms of being largely crowded at the bottom of the labour hierarchy.
Dr. Esim, Cooperative Unit Head, ILO, during her speech at the Conference.
Delegates were welcomed to the last day of the conference with opening remarks by Prof. Trebor Scholz, New School, United States. "Beyond following the shift of labor markets to the Internet, this is also about data ownership and the prospects of meaningful interoperability between co-operatives. There are 100 million co-ops with roughly 1 billion members worldwide. Combining the ICA principles with the opportunities of digital technologies opens the door to new business models and will attract new generations to the idea of cooperativism”, said Prof. Trebor Scholz.
Dr. Yashvantha Dongre of the Third Sector Research Resource Centre, University of Mysore, shared with the audience: “Co-operatives need not – and must not – abandon the definition of voting membership; but unless they remain open to the new possibilities for participation and engagement and are willing to innovate, they might miss out on opportunities to inspire and involve a new generation of members.”
Please click on the link here to read the Common Minimum Understanding of the participants of the Conference to enhance the role of co-operatives and collectives, in meeting the challenges of the changing world of work, and in addressing the mega drivers of Future of Work viz. technology, demography, climate change and economic globalization. This link also contains thematic reflections made by some of the prominent speakers at the Conference which have contributed to the ILO Inception Report on the Future of Work. For photographs and presentations from the Conference please visit www.worldofwork.coop.
Additionally the International Cooperative Alliance has welcomed ILO’s Centenary Initiative with its focus on the Future of Work, and, within this context, the establishment of the ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work. On April 30, the cooperative movement has presented a position paper on the Global Commission’s Inception Report, called Cooperatives and the Future of Work, showing the relevance of cooperatives in work and employment, and has proposed policy recommendations aimed at promoting cooperatives’ contributions to the future of work. The position paper can be read here.
