In order to breathe new life into the Moroccan cooperative movement, recognized for its pivotal role in regional socio-economic development, the parliamentary group of the Popular Movement (MP) in the House of Representatives has laid the foundations of a bill ambitious, aimed at enriching existing legislation on cooperatives (Law No. 112.12).
The social and solidarity economy in Morocco has progressed remarkably thanks to Law 112.12, thus boosting the cooperative movement. Cooperatives have been essential in regional development, by creating jobs, fighting against precariousness, marketing local products, and integrating small producers into the market.
In particular, women’s cooperatives have boosted the local economy, improving living conditions and ensuring a stable income for thousands of members. Despite their crucial role, they face financing, marketing and governance challenges.
With this in mind, the parliamentary group of the MP in the House of Representatives is proposing a bill to broaden the scope of action of cooperatives in cultural areas such as health, sport, education by contributing to nurseries, preschool education and educational support. This project also stipulates that the president of the cooperative resides in the region.
Thus, the inaugural article of the bill presents the cooperative as a group of individuals, whether they are natural or legal persons, or both, having decided to join together to create a business meeting their economic needs, social and cultural.
This bill highlights the fundamental values and principles of cooperation, such as open and voluntary membership, democratic management, economic contribution of members, autonomous management, training and information, cooperation between cooperatives , and commitment to society.
It classifies cooperatives into three categories, namely those providing products or services to their members after processing, those producing goods or services for their members, as well as those offering paid work to their members.
According to the document of which Hespress FR has a copy, cooperatives are flexible structures, able to encompass diverse and complementary activities, thus demonstrating their adaptability to needs and economic and social dynamics. For example, by integrating educational services, they demonstrate their ability to act beyond strictly economic aspects, by promoting the development of knowledge and skills within their members and the community.
This bill therefore aims to establish a precise framework to govern these structures, recognizing their essential role in promoting socio-economic and cultural well-being, while encouraging cooperation and solidarity within their members.
