In his message marking the International Day of Cooperatives, Houngbo underscored how these enterprises generate employment, strengthen local economies, and foster democratic participation amidst growing global uncertainty.

  Today, Houngbo noted, peace is under pressure, and conflicts, displacement, inequality, economic insecurity, environmental degradation, and rising mistrust are affecting people’s lives.

  He explained that cooperatives make a vital contribution by creating jobs and livelihoods, strengthening local economies, and helping to keep essential goods and services accessible to people.

  Meanwhile, cooperative employment reaches one in ten workers worldwide, while the top 300 cooperatives alone generate a combined turnover of nearly $2.8 trillion, he added.

  Cooperatives contribute to stability, job creation, and community resilience during times of crisis, the ILO Director-General asserted, calling for recognition of the role these enterprises play in uniting people for a more peaceful world rooted in decent work and social justice.

  In 1994, the UN General Assembly invited governments, international organizations, specialized agencies, and national and international cooperatives to observe the International Day of Cooperatives annually on the first Saturday of July, starting in 1995.

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