Barcelona It will host its ‘center’ from 2023 cooperatives worked best of all Europe. work done to clean 4,500 meters squares of the fourth block Can Batllo They are in the final stages and on July 1 it is expected to begin construction of the site, which will include areas reserved for the incubation of new projects, as well as equipment for already consolidated projects – such as meeting spaces or video conferences. and co-working spaces (co-working spaces).
The Catalan cooperative world is erasing the consequences of covid and solidifying its foundation. 4,551 companies According to the latest data for April, across Catalonia Ministry of Labor of the Generalitat. These contribute to the environment 2.2% of Catalan GDP. And the opening of the promotional center Coopolis, located in Can Batlló, promises to be a driving force for a group that employs more than 45,000 people across the region. The origin of the initiative is in the neighborhood and cooperative movement, more specifically the ‘Barri cooperatiu’ project supported by the bookstore. Invisible City Today this project is located in ‘La Comunal’, a space shared with other cooperatives such as a restaurant. desklawyers group iridia wave language classamong others.
Work is delayed as the initial idea is to finish it around 2021. Between the pandemic and the archaeological discoveries of ancient skeletons that workers are making, the work is getting long. The current estimate is that the venue could open throughout 2023, between January and November.
The new social economy law
2023 looks set to be a key year for co-operatives in Catalonia, as in addition to the launch of Coopolis, Parliament is expected to process the new social economy law. The purpose of this regulation, according to the Co-Chair of the Labor Federation, is to create a kind of ‘stamp’ to distinguish these projects, whether they are cooperatives, foundations or commercial companies operating according to the principles of social economy. cooperatives William Llorens.
To this end, a set of requirements will be established – to be determined in Parliament – such as the degree of participation of workers in management and decision-making processes, the maximum ratio between the wages of the lowest and the best paid. and other requirements to certify that the person holding the seal is indeed within the framework of the social economy. Said seal will also serve for the advertising differentiation of companies or cooperatives and their inclusion in future public economic promotion policies, among others.
In the Catalan cooperative fabric of these 4,551 cooperatives, business cooperatives (lawyers, architects, occupational risk prevention services or personal care services) predominate. Other better-known names like SomEnergia or Abacus are consumer cooperatives. In worker cooperatives, the size is typically small, with 6 out of 10 having fewer than 10 employees. And according to internal data from the Federation of Workers Cooperatives, the distribution of management positions with 48% of managers or directors is more equitable than in ordinary companies.