• Madrid hosts the XI Edition of the Academy of Social and Solidarity Economy, organized by the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security; and the International Labor Organization (ILO); in collaboration with CEPES.
• The president of CEPES underlines "the unstoppable dynamics of the Social Economy in the world, which already represents 7% of employment and world GDP".
• This event, which has more than 400 attendees from 40 countries, analyzes how to guarantee the sustainability, inclusion and stability of employment thanks to the values of the Social Economy.
• Minister Magdalena Valerio stressed that "the Social Economy in Spain enjoys stability that materializes in the generation of about 2.2 million direct and indirect jobs, and whose reflection in GDP is 10%."
Madrid, October 14, 2019.- The Social Economy shows its strength globally to guarantee stable, inclusive and sustainable employment, within the debate on the future of work held in Madrid on the occasion of the XI Edition of the Academy of the Social and Solidarity Economy.
This event, organized by the Organization Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security; the International Labor Organization (OITY) and CEPES, has the presence of more than 400 people from 40 countries, representatives of supranational institutions (UN, EU ...), high representatives of international governments, entities and companies of Social Economy, representatives of Autonomous governments and work-related personalities (companies, unions ...).
The president of the Spanish Business Confederation of the Social Economy (CEPES) and 'Social Economy Europe', Juan Antonio Pedreño , stressed that “this Academy, which brings together participants from the five continents, is part of an unstoppable dynamics of the Social Economy in the world, which already represents 7% of global employment and GDP and that is being vindicated and made visible to institutions and society, including the UN and the EU, whose future Commissioners for Employment and Internal Market made last week a firm commitment to include our business model in a priority place in the community policy agenda ”.
“With this act,” added Pedreño, “Madrid becomes the world capital of the Social Economy,” while recalling that CEPES and SEE “are the voice of the 3.2 million companies and entities of the Social Economy. in Europe and 13.6 million jobs that generate 8% of European GDP ”.
Pedreño said that “The Social Economy humanizes globalization, it is an expanding business reality, with companies of all sizes - from SMEs to large business groups - present in all economic sectors, built around values such as: the primacy of person and corporate purpose against capital, democratic governance, or reinvestment of most of the benefits to create and maintain employment, to consolidate the business project and pursue sustainable development goals. ”
In this regard, the president of the United Nations Working Group on Social and Solidarity Economy and director of the ILO Department of Business, Vic van Vuuren , pointed out that the UN has placed the Social Economy as a priority and level business model global to meet the results of the 2030 Agenda.
Magdalena Valerio
The Minister of Labor, Migration and Social Security in charge of the Government of Spain, Magdalena Valerio , highlighted the importance of the Social Economy in the debate on the future of work gracias a "values and guiding principles that guide them: internal solidarity and with society, which translates into a commitment to stable and quality employment, with social cohesion, equality, the insertion of people in situation and risk of social exclusion and sustainability ”.
Also, the minister stressed that "the social economy in Spain enjoys stability that materializes in the generation of about 2.2 million direct and indirect jobs, and whose reflection in GDP is 10%."
Valerio said that the Spanish Social Economy is a benchmark that is leading many of the initiatives that are developed internationally. In addition, he showed the firm commitment of the Government of Spain with this business model and announced that it will support its presence in the Ibero-American Summits, as well as the reestablishment of the Social Economy Intergroup of the European Parliament for this term.
The minister also highlighted the values of this business model that "puts people at the center of its activity" and has its reflection "on greater equality, social inclusion, respect for the environment and support for local communities."
In addition, Valerio stressed the distinctive elements of the social economy of Spain, related to decent work and support for the 2030 Agenda. “In the Action Plan, the Spanish Social Economy Strategy 2017-2020 has a central role, being designated as one of the leverage policies to achieve the Sustainable Development goals ”.
The Secretary of State for Employment in the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security of Spain, Yolanda Valdeolivas , said that “Spain is firmly committed and motivated with the Social Economy. And it has come to occupy a unique place in our agenda, which is guiding many public policies. ”
Valdeolivas announced that Spain will replace France in 2020 in the presidency of the Government Monitoring Group for the Social Economy, which is currently made up of 14 members of the European Union.
In addition, Valdeolivas explained that “the Social Economy responds to issues such as the demographic challenge and depopulation, as they are fixed companies in the territory, as well as the labor insertion of young people, women and disadvantaged groups.
The High Commissioner of Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation of the Government of France, Christophe Itier , said that "Social Economy has the ability to transform our worldview" and "must have an exponential growth to respond to the challenges of the future such as social or territorial cohesion, climate change and, above all, achieve a more sustainable and social world ”.
Itier also announced France's intention to work with Spain to develop joint plans to promote youth work through formulas and Social Economy, as well as granting this business model maximum visibility in European institutions.
The director of the ILO Office in Madrid, Joaquín Nieto , said that "we are living through a change and a very large transformation process marked by globalization, to which we need an accompaniment in which the Social Economy has much to say."
Spain's ambassador to the OECD, Manuel Escudero , explained what “the main lines” should be to rebuild the social contract: stop the process of inequality between poverty and wealth, resolve gender inequalities, stop and reverse climate change, build opportunities for everyone in the digital society or aging, since life expectancy is increasing. "In this future line," he said, & ldquo; the Social Economy plays a fundamental role ”.
On the other hand, the general director of the Social Economy of the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security of Spain, María Antonia Pérez León , highlighted how the Social Economy has become an essential actor to solve the challenges of the future of work and guarantee a stable and decent employment.
