On the first Saturday of July, every year, the United Nations together with the ICA, the International Co-operatives Alliance, celebrate the International Cooperative Day. This year this is taking place today.
This year's theme highlights how the cooperative model of enterprise can successfully empower women. Cooperatives have a key role to play as they are able to respond to both women's practical and strategic needs.
Whether it be through women-only cooperatives or cooperatives made up of women and men, they offer an effective organisational means for women members and employees to raise their living standards by accessing decent work opportunities, savings and credit facilities, health, housing and social services, and education and training.
Cooperatives also offer women opportunities for participation in, and influence over, economic activities. Women gain self-reliance and self-esteem through this participation. Co-operatives also contribute to the improvement of the economic, social and cultural situation of women in other ways, including promoting equality and changing institutional biases.
In Malta, the possibility of setting up cooperatives started way back in 1944, however, the first form of legislation regulating cooperatives in Malta came into effect in 1946. Between 1946 and 1975, most of the co-operatives registered were within the agricultural sector and their main function was to provide a service to their members.
Following further developments, schemes were offered to employees in the public sector to encourage them to set up a cooperative.
The first group to take up this offer formed the first public sector cooperative in 1996. The cooperative movement in Malta has continued to flourish, with new co-operatives being set up in practically every sector of the Maltese economy. This movement in Malta now boasts over 5,000 members in just under 60 cooperatives with a global, annual turnover of over €77 million.
Cooperatives are set up on seven basic principles. They are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination. Cooperatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.
All members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote). Members contribute equitably to and democratically control the capital of their co-operative. Members allocate surpluses for development, reserves fund and to support social activities. Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. They provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees. Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures. They work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
On December 18, 2009, the United Nations proclaimed 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives. By doing so, it recognised that the cooperative business model is a major factor in realising economic and social development. It also calls on governments, international institutions, cooperatives and other stakeholders to support the development and growth of cooperatives worldwide. Malta too has become very active in this field.
Since being entrusted with this sector last February I have taken up the challenge to assist the local cooperative society and to help it prepare itself for 2012. This is being achieved by working hand in hand with all those involved, The Co-Operatives Board, Koperattivi Malta and the Central Cooperatives Fund. I am also finding my regular on-site visits and meeting each and every cooperative society in Malta and Gozo, with the aim of understanding better their needs within the field, very fruitful and enriching. A report analysing the cooperatives, situation commissioned by the government in 2009 was published some days ago for public consultation till mid-October.
It is therefore both right and proper that Malta also commemorates this day, dedicated specially to cooperatives. There are significant social benefits, especially for women, by working together within a cooperative, with a sense of duty and respect towards each other and our society.
Dr Azzopardi is Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Land.