The International Labour Conference (ILC) plenary, composed of governments’, workers’ and employers’ representatives from 187 ILO Member States, adopted on Friday 10 June 2022 the Resolution and Conclusions on Decent work and the social and solidarity economy, available here in several languages.

The ILO’s International Labour Conference conclusions on SSE and Decent Work, include an introduction that recalls the links between the social and solidarity economy and the ILO by directly referencing the ILO Constitution. Part II provides a clear and comprehensive “Definition of the SSE” based on a set of values and principles. This is the first agreed tripartite definition of the social and solidarity economy at the international level. Part III spells out the “Guiding principles to address challenges and opportunities” to promote decent work and the social and solidarity economy for a human-centred future of work. Part IV explains “The role of governments and the social partners” in fostering the social and solidarity economy’s economic, social and environmental contributions. Part V, entitled “The role of the ILO“, provides recommendations for Office action and key principles that underpin such action.

This document is the result of two intense weeks of social dialogue, debates and insightful exchanges with ILO constituents and it includes the international definition of the SSE, the guiding principles to address challenges and opportunities, the role of governments and the social partners and the mandate for the ILO Office in the area of the SSE.

 In addition, the discussion was the first high-level debate in the UN system on the subject. Although the social and solidarity economy is not new, its policy importance and visibility have grown significantly since the turn of the century.

On behalf of the EMES, we would like to congratulate all colleagues, teams, institutions, organizations and people involved in the process. It is a collective achievement, fully rooted in social dialogue.

For more information on the whole process and background material, please visit here.