Guidelines for Cooperative Legislation

The Guidelines for Cooperative Legislation provide comprehensive guidance on how cooperative laws can be designed to recognise the distinct nature of cooperative enterprises while supporting their sustainability and competitiveness.

Produced by the International Labor Organization, the guidelines draw on international standards, including ILO Recommendation No. 193, and are used globally by lawmakers, regulators, and cooperative stakeholders.

Report at a glance

• Publisher: International Labor Organization 

• Edition: Third revised edition 

• Year: 2012 

• Focus: Cooperative law and legal frameworks 

• Geographic scope: Global 

• Format: PDF guide 

• Audience: Lawmakers, policymakers, cooperative leaders, researchers 

Why this report matters

Cooperatives operate differently from investor-owned firms and require legal frameworks that recognise their member-owned, principles-based structure. These guidelines are one of the most widely cited international references on cooperative legislation and continue to inform legal reform efforts worldwide.

For New Zealand readers, the document provides valuable international context for understanding how cooperative-specific legislation supports long-term enterprise resilience and democratic ownership.

Key themes explored

• The rationale for cooperative-specific legislation

• Cooperative identity, values, and principles in law

• Governance, membership, and capital structures

• International trends in cooperative law

• Policy considerations for sustainable development

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