UN body–International Labour Organization ILO has lauded the role being played by cooperatives around the world in the tough times of Covid 19. Kudos to cooperatives and other solidarity economies for demonstrating the relevance of their model in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the message reads.
Talking about Covid 19, ILO says the world of work is profoundly affected by the global pandemic and its social and economic repercussions. Enterprises around the world had to suspend or scale down operations, resulting in production disruptions, and loss of demand for many goods and services with enormous impact for workers and employment.
“Millions of workers around the world are without a job and unable to sustain themselves and their families. Others are endangering their own health while providing health care and ensuring continued provision of goods and services”, reads the message.
Some are adapting to working from home and balancing multiple responsibilities. Cooperative and wider SSE organizations around the world are demonstrating the relevance of their model in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have highlighted some of these emerging practices practiced by cooperatives on our website, the letter reads
ILO believes that cooperatives will be instrumental beyond the emergency phase and well into the medium to long term recovery in the affected countries. “We have seen in many other crisis contexts across history. Their values and principles can guide the transition toward not only a new normal but a better normal”, it says lauding the co-op model.
It bears recall that ILO is commemorating its centenary. “We reach out to extend our best wishes to our cooperative and social and solidarity economy (SSE) partners in these times of uncertainty”, ILO states.