The Commitment of Cooperative Workers to the Movement: The Case of Japanese Consumers Co-op

Abstract

Japanese consumers’ cooperative movement is famous for its “Han” system. The essence of that unique business model is the collaboration between cooperative members and workers. Japanese Co-op workers are not defined as mere employees but “partners” or “linkers” of the member-oriented movement. Both members and workers have been cooperatively engaged in business and social activities. Whereas previous researches on the consumer co-op movements in Europe are mainly focused on the consumer members, we will stress the active role of the cooperative workers in the movement from Japanese experience. Japanese Co-op workers fill the key role for the business and social activities of consumers’ cooperatives. The members enhance the motivation of the workers in cooperative societies. Conversely, the workers increase the commitment of members to the cooperative business. Workers’ active contribution to the cooperative movement is another source of the vital co-op as well as the members’ participatory democracy in Japan. It shows that member-owned business leads to social innovation beyond their personal interests with the collaboration with the workers on the cooperative idea.