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Self-help or self-reliance continues to be the basic philosophy
underlying the Philippines’ social reform and poverty-alleviation
efforts. Self-sustaining businesses and livelihood ventures are
encouraged, which led to the development of groups with self-help
programs that require little assistance from the government. Asiapro
Multi-purpose Cooperative is a notable sample.
Asiapro empowers what was previously an
unorganized sector in the country, the informal or non-regular
workers. Based on recent labor data, there are over 20 million
workers in the informal labor sector in the country. Most of these
workers are marginalized casual, contractual, seasonal, temporary
and non-regular employees. Under the Asiapro model, workers from
this rank organize themselves and form a self-employed workers
cooperative.
Asiapro pioneered the concept of self-employed
workers cooperative by modifying and eliminating the disadvantages
brought about by the current status of contractual, contingent and
temporary relationships. It introduced the concept of transforming
workers into “entrepreneurs,” or more appropriately, “coopreneurs,”
having bonded together in a cooperative enterprise.
Each member is a self-employed worker-owner,
therefore transactions are not carried out in the context of an
employee-employer relationship. He is a co-owner of the cooperative
and he engages in contractual assignments with the cooperative
serving as the contracting party.
As constituents of a self-help enterprise,
Asiapro members have enough leverage to enjoy benefits that are at
par with, if not better than those enjoyed by other contingent
workers and even by regular workers of some companies.
Asiapro members enjoy higher income from their
services and share in the surplus of the cooperative. They also have
insurance, health care, savings, and other standard employment
benefits. Members have access to training programs, savings and
credit facilities, and other livelihood opportunities as well.
As “co-owners” of the enterprise, members have the opportunity
to share whatever success the cooperative will reap.
The clients of Asiapro Cooperative come from a
variety of industries—manufacturing, distribution, agribusiness,
property management, construction and utilities, hotel and food
services, financial services, personal care and retailing. Asiapro
Cooperative also pursues outsourcing contracts and partnerships in
such areas as logistics, sales and promotion, packing, hygiene,
housekeeping and maintenance services.
Focusing on cooperativism and self-reliance is a
key strategy to generate employment and livelihood.
Asiapro will work hand in hand with the
government to empower more Filipino workers. Its impressive track
record is a prime example of a self-help enterprise, a result which
can be emulated by people working together, determinedly for a
common good.
For more details visit us at www.asiapro.coop.
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