The cooperatives in the social economy
in Belgium
French-speaking
Belgium, the social economy is traditionally defined as follows: "By
social economy refers to economic activities producing goods or services,
carried out by companies, mainly cooperatives and / or social purpose,
associations, mutual funds or foundations, whose ethos is reflected by the
following principles: 1 purpose of service to the community or members rather
than profit purpose; 2 management autonomy; 3 democratic and participatory management;
4 primacy of persons and work over capital in the distribution of income.
"
(source:
Wikipedia).
The cooperative
companies with a social purpose and / or approved by the National Board of
cooperation are, by nature, the promoters of a socially responsible
entrepreneurship.
The cooperative
entrepreneurship is an expression of shared values and based on
solidarity. In a cooperative, the members, who satisfy a dividend limited,
pursue a common goal broader than just profit-seeking and personally involved
in the company. Whatever the size of their financial investment, all partners
have a real voice in the company policy.
Cooperative societies
that operate according to cooperative values and principles may
obtain a license from the Minister of Economy to become a member of the
National Council for Cooperation. This approval gives them certain advantages.
Source: http://statbel.fgov.be
A few figures
In Belgium, there are
nearly 500 cooperative enterprises approved by the National Council for
Cooperation (see list below) mainly represented in the Walloon region and
within the agricultural sector. In Flanders, there is a better balance between
service cooperatives, consumer and agricultural cooperatives. Yet these are not
registered cooperatives that about 1% of Belgian cooperatives (E-note 6, pulpit
Cera 2008). They are the ones who want to say loud
and values of cooperation.
Besides these
cooperatives approved, many companies adhering to the principles of cooperative
entrepreneurship, including SCRLFS have not asked their approval to the
National Council for Cooperation.
At European level,
there are 260,000 cooperatives cumulative 160 million members, a third of EU
citizens.
Voir la liste des coopératives agréées par le CNC
Voir
aussi l’e-note 6 de la Chaire Cera
Et les
chiffres de l’observatoire de l’économie sociale
Where to form cooperative
entrepreneurship?
Since spring 2010,
the Management Boutique offers a one-day training
entitled "I can create my cooperative."
Advice agencies in
the social economy can also assist you in setting up a project (c (voir la page création de notre
site
). Most of them also offer training.
To enter the
mind, you can also try the Network Exchange and Solidarity Practices and
Alternatives ( Réseau d’Echanges et de Pratiques Alternatives et Solidaires) which offers training in cooperative culture.
Their plan: putting people at the
center of business and foster the development of civic engagement, enabling
young people to explore and define the basis of a professional activity and a
life project and pulsing new achievements in the field of social economy.
Some examples in a variety of sectors
Cooperatives can be found in many
areas but the three branches are best represented agriculture, pharmaceutical
distribution and the financial sector.
In finance: we include two large cooperatives
that are Cera and Crédal ... quite keen to give added value to your social and ethical money ...
And the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks
In green energy: This is an area par excellence
where we must come together to invest are inter alia Ecopower, a cooperative based in Antwerp, which has its own wind turbines since
2000 and has more than 15,000 cooperative , including 13,000 purchase
electricity it produces. There are also Aeolian citizens Eoliennes citoyennes which aims to invest in energy production at the start of renewable
energy sources: wind, water, solar and biomass ...
In the building: These include Murmuur, winner of the 2009 Award of the Social Economy in the active façade
renovation in Brussels, which aims to provide to vulnerable groups and
low-skilled jobs in the long term if possible, Sun green Soleil Vert, a cooperative social purpose that stands out in green building,
including insulation by blowing cellulose or Les Tournières the real estate company with a social
objective which aims to stimulate collective ownership.
In recycling: La Ressourcerie Namuroise whose niche is the overall management of bulky
waste and Filbois, cooperative active inclusion in the recycling timber yards and container park are good examples. We should also mention groupe Terre, although it no longer has the legal status of cooperative, but
different structures organized SAFS (Société anonyme social purpose). The spirit is the same.
In the accompaniment the creation of activity: Again,
there are also cooperatives, called Cooperative activities that support the
people who want to create their own jobs under independent status. Cooperatives
activities are supported by the government and federated within Coopac. Their
creation is fairly recent (Law of 1 March 2007 laying down miscellaneous
provisions, Art. 80 et seq.)
In fair trade: There "Du monde à la maison ' cooperative dedicated to fair trade
brands.
Présentation vidéo
In Inclusion in there original experiments as EXARIS Intérim (02 220 31 20), the first office of temporary office in Brussels (created
in 2007) which is aimed at young people under thirty holders at most a lower
secondary diploma. There are also much older companies that have reached a
remarkable size, such as la Lorraine à Arlon, four cooperatives - that together - totaling more than fifty years of
experience - more than 300 workers and occupy (maintenance of offices and
parking lots , big or small painting, lawn care and maintenance of forests;
rental and installation of tents, household help.) or even stronger Ekoservices, with 18,000 customers and 1,500 housekeepers aware of the eco-friendly
products.
And finally, the arts, there are Scènes et Fil, which
includes five SCRLFS costume designers around Liège
workshop design and costume making service to arts and entertainment.
Présentation vidéo
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Sources:
http://www.econosoc.be/?rub=actualite&page=dossier_cooperative