The Indonesian cooperative movement has been growing steadily since its inception in the late 19th century. With a long-standing tradition of gotong royong (cooperation) deeply ingrained in Indonesian culture, it's no wonder that cooperatives have become an integral part of the country's economy.
According to data from 2018, there are approximately 123 thousand enterprises with a combined membership of 26 million members. The sector is dominated by savings and loan cooperatives, which prioritize promoting the spirit of saving. Despite capacity and capability challenges, growth has been impressive, with the contribution of cooperatives to the country's GDP increasing from 1.8% in 2014 to 5.1% in 2019.
However, one area that remains largely underdeveloped is the worker cooperative model. While there are examples of successful worker-owned platforms, such as the Slamet Shoe Cooperative and Koperasi Dharma Profesi, the concept is still not widely recognized or practiced.
Raising Awareness of Worker Cooperative Model
Worker cooperatives have the potential to address various social problems, including unemployment and inequality. By organizing workers from diverse industries and educational backgrounds, worker cooperatives can be a powerful tool for promoting economic democracy and social transformation.
The platform economy, in particular, presents an untapped opportunity for worker cooperatives to thrive. Entirely new forms of ownership could be experimented with, such as "multistakeholder" or "hybrid" cooperatives where both workers and consumers have a say and stake in the business.
Growing Interest Among Young People
There is growing awareness among young people in Indonesia about the benefits of worker cooperatives. The high interest in a workshop organized by the Kopkun Institute in 2018 is evidence of this trend. Participants were able to re-explore the vision of cooperatives in pioneering a new era in digital technology and economic platforms.
New worker cooperative start-ups are emerging, such as Purusha Research Cooperative, which provides research and consultancy services. The Bekasi Labor Union, a coop minimarket and café that provides job opportunities for laid-off workers, is another example. Sama, a media coop owned by journalists, is also gaining traction.
Platform Cooperatives: A New Era of Worker Ownership
In 2020, the pandemic accelerated the growth of platform cooperatives in Indonesia. Mondragon (the largest worker cooperative in the world) and the Platform Cooperative Consortium launched a global online course, which attracted 24 participants from Indonesia. Many of these individuals have gone on to develop projects aimed at bringing cooperatively owned platform economies to Indonesia.
Examples include "Gapatma," a media initiative that promotes economic democracy through webinars and social media campaigns. My Cool Class, a platform cooperative owned by teachers around the world, is another example. We are currently fundraising for this project, and if you're interested in donating or joining us as a teacher, please get in touch., Indonesia's cooperative movement has tremendous potential to be harnessed and grown. By raising awareness about worker cooperatives and promoting digital platforms, we can create a more inclusive and equitable economy that benefits all stakeholders involved.