The Story of the ILO’s Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation, 2002 (No.193) A review of the process of making ILO Recommendation No. 193, its implementation and its impact

From its creation in 1919, the ILO has recognized the importance of cooperatives as a means of pursuing its mandate to achieve social justice and full employment. The ILO remains the only specialized agency of the United Nations with an explicit mandate on cooperatives. Central to ILO’s mandate is a system of international labour standards that promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity. An ILO international labour standard that has been proved highly relevant for the revival of cooperative enterprises in many parts of the world is the Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation, 2002 (No. 193). This international policy instrument, adopted by the International Labour Conference more than a decade ago, has provided a practical, contemporary framework for the development and revision of cooperative policies and legislation in more than 100
countries worldwide.