ILO contributes to the HomeNet Southeast Asia (HNSEA) Thematic Workshop on Social Solidarity Economy

The Workshop, that took place on 2nd November 2022 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, aimed to improve an understanding of the values and principles of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) from the perspective and experiences of homebased workers.

News | 11 November 2022
Organized as a hybrid event, the participants to the workshop included HNSEA Executive Committee and Council Members and homebased worker leaders from six member countries.

HomeNet South-East Asia is the sub-regional network of national networks of home-based workers, including the Artisans’ Association of Cambodia (AAC), Himpunan Wanita Pekerja Rumahan Indonesia – Association of the Indonesian Women Homeworkers (HWPRI) working closely with MWPRI (Homenet Indonesia), Homenet Laos organized by the Non-Profit Association for Laos Development (NALD), HomeNet Philippines, and HomeNet Thailand.

ILO COOP Programme Manager Simel Esim was invited to share the recent developments around the SSE at the ILO, including the recent adoption of a resolution on decent work and the SSE with the participants. Ms Esim noted that while the term SSE is relatively new in the region, the principles and values are grounded in traditional solidarity, reciprocity, and mutuality practices are widespread in the region’s diverse cultures and traditions.

Reflecting on the relationship between decent work and the SSE, she pointed to the need to think about decent work in and through the SSE. She reminded the workshop participants that while the SSE is a way for members to ensure and improve livelihoods it should not be at the expense of advancing decent working conditions.

Ms Esim highlighted the different pathways that the SSE entities in the informal economy support their members, users and communities, in many instances helping them in their transition to the formal economy. She talked about how the 110th session of the International Labour Conference held a general discussion on decent work and the SSE which led to the adoption of a resolution on the topic.

“To give effect to the conclusions, the International Labour Office has developed a seven-year strategy and action plan on decent work and the social and solidarity economy” she noted.

Transitions from the informal to the formal economy and decent work for care economy workers are identified among the priority areas of the strategy and action plan, she added. In concluding her words, she noted that the ILO has been working on these thematic areas around the world with its constituents and partners including with Women in the Informal Economy Globalizing Organizing (WIEGO) and HomeNet International. She confirmed that they will be important to implementing the strategy and action plan.