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Workers' Collectives in Japan as Women’s social enterprises

Chigusa Fujiki

PresidentWorkers’ Collective Network Japan

JAPAN

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1. What is a Workers' Collective?

• Workers' Collectives are based on the spirit of the co-operative.

• The members are not employed, but work together through pooling their financial resources, and take responsibility for their work through autonomous self-determination as equal partners.

• They are often a not-for-profit citizen enterprise which is capable of carrying out functions necessary for enrichment of the livelihood of the community

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2. The origin and development of workers' collectives

• The first Japanese workers' collective was formed in 1982 in Kanagawa Prefecture to contract for administrative work at one of the Seikatsu Club Co-operative stores and to produce and sell lunch boxes.

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• Following that, workers' collectives were quickly formed in Tokyo, Chiba, and Saitama regions. These were not all within the Seikatsu Club Co-operative; other co-operatives began to establish their own workers' collectives and the movement spread nationwide.

• Not limited to business category or to co-operative-related contract work, workers' collectives developed into any organization that would provide "goods and/or services" that would help raise the quality of life, such as in the areas of food, welfare, environment, information, and so on.

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Growth of Workers' Collectives Nationwide

16,149

13,857

9,000

7,000

4,000

12,000

580556

455

350

270

164

12.79

7.35.7

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 20030

100

200

300

400

500

600No. of members

No. of collectives

Business turnover (billion yen)

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No. of Workers' Collectives in Japan by type of business

0

50

100

150

200

250

1999 95 16 62 12 19 2 6 14 3 8 5 85

2001 209 85 85 13 23 3 7 22 6 10 115

2003 218 149 80 11 17 2 7 28 5 22 30 114

Housew ork

and

homecare

Childcare,

priv ate

tutoring

Lunch box es

and cateringBakery

Recy cling,

Soapmaking

Clothes

alteration,

measuremen

Non-

chemical

housing

Editing and

Planning

Health

Instruction,

acupuncture

Sales of eco-

goods

Transport for

the

handicapped

Contract

w ork for

Cooperativ e

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Workers' Collective Network JapanMember Organizations ・ Hokkaido Workers' Collective Liaison Council ・ Kanagawa Workers' Collective Liaison Council ・ NPO Workers‘ Collective Chiba Prefecture Liaison Council ・ Saitama Workers' Collective Liaison Council ・ Tokyo Workers' Collective Co-operative　 ・ NPO Ability Club Tasukeai (ACT) ・ Workers' Collective Kinki Liaison Council ・ Fukuoka Workers' Collective Liaison Council ・ Workers' Collective Kumamoto Liaison Council

Activities ･Working towards enshrining in law of Workers' Collectives and

the raising of their social profile. ･ Six national conferences have been held so far.

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3. The Appeal of Workers' Collectives

• Each individual can have his or her own goals, and work in an active way while making use of his or her abilities.

• Beginning from the quiet but sincere wishes of the community, they carry out the function of enriching the life of the community.

• They are non-profit organizations which give priority to the viewpoint of users and consideration for the environment.

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• It is a form of work that can provide the individual with a feeling of self-realization and a sense of satisfaction from contributing to the community.

• Since there are associations of Workers' Collectives, information exchange, management support, organizational partnerships and so on are taking place.

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4. Challenges for Workers' Collectives

• Although all the members are supposed to be both managers and workers, there is a difference in the managerial awareness between individuals.

• It is hard for individuals to evaluate each other's abilities.

• Much time is needed to reach decisions that everyone agrees with.

• Almost all of the members are housewives; there are very few Workers' Collectives in which men and young people are participating.

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Sex

3%

97%

femalemale

Age of members 25 29～1%

30 34～3%

under241%over65

4% 35 39～7%

60 64～10%

50 54～24%

40 44～15%

45 49～20%

55 59～15%

Age and Sex of Workers’ Collectives’ members

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• The fact that Workers' Collectives are small and not well known is considered a negative aspect.

• There is currently no type of corporation in the legislation that covers this form of work.

• There are problems with the tax and pension systems, such as tax exemptions for spouses, and pensions contributions.

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• The graying of society at rates unprecedented elsewhere in the world

• unstable economic growth and severe financial situations for local governments

• loss of natural environment and food safety for reasons of economy or efficiency

• inability to dispose of mountains of refuse• the weakening of interpersonal relations

5. Workers' Collectives are useful to build townships (communities) where people would

wish to continue to live

Enterprises established in the community by citizens and based on the spirit of non-profit co-operatives is one means of bringing hope and cheer to a community.

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　ＣＯＳＭＯＳ（ Bakery）

　　　

HANAMUSUBI (Lunch boxes and

catering)

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MICHI(Lunch boxes and catering)

Store No.1

Store No.2

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AYUMI(Cookie maker)

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Fuu

(Working with handicapped people, managing a cafeteria ）

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Bon(Jam maker)

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　ＰｏｔＰｏｔ (Lunch, Cookie maker)

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OREGANO(Cooking in the apartment house

for old people )

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Grain(Bakery)

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Kiki(Recycling)

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BEST FIVE (Clothes Measurements)

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WADACHI(Delivering for Consumers’ Cooperative)

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Nanohana Machida(Catering for old people)

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Kids’ room Tinkerbell(Childcare)

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Kenkoutaisou shidou workers(Teaching exercising for old people)

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６． How to begin working as a Workers’ Collective

1 First of all, you may hear mutters in your neighborhood, or be conscious of your own wish.

2 Think about the business you could create to solve those mutters, needs or wish.

3 Search for associates (members) to begin together.

4 Narrow the purpose of the business and the contents with the associates, and make a business scheme.

5 Begin small so that overwork does not occur and don't try to reach beyond your ability.

What is your dream? What kinds of needs exist in your town?