On 29 September, the ICA-AP Committee on Cooperative Research (CCR) conducted COOP Colloquium 4.0 on the theme ‘Cooperative Identity & Platform Technology’. It continued the series of academic dialogue on issues that are relevant to cooperative education and research and was participated by 31 participants from 9 countries.
Dr. Sidsel Grimstad, Vice-chairperson, ICA-AP CCR, in her welcome remarks, said that the experience of cooperative scholarship across the Asia and Pacific region is rich and diverse, and ICA-AP CCR would like to bring these together in COOP Colloquium to share, inform and learn. She welcomed the speakers and the need to discuss on the theme, ‘Cooperative Identity & Platform Technology’.
Ms. Sapni G. K., a lawyer and policy researcher working on various aspects of technology, with a focus on regulation, compliance, geopolitics, sustainability and gendered experiences made a presentation on “Regulatory challenges to establishing and operating platform cooperatives in India”. She said that platformisation of labour has created an unhealthy tussle between the market and the workers. Regulatory regimes are grappling with the question of directing policy to be supportive to all, benefiting the various stakeholders involved. The fallout between corporate owners of gig platforms and workers has shown that there is a misalignment of goals of these two interest groups.
Dr. Mwongela Mikwa, a Kenyan citizen and a Research Affiliate at The Institute of Cooperative Digital Economy at The New School, New York made a presentation on “Rebooting the Cooperative Identity through Platform Techs: Lessons from The Future Platform”. He said that cooperatives are an alternate model to corporate owned gig-platforms, where the ownership of the platform rests with the members of the cooperative which is composed of workers utilising the platform. Platform cooperatives — or gig platforms owned by bodies that emulate the structure of traditional cooperatives — try to mitigate the exploitation of gig workers facing unequal power dynamics and bargaining terms. This organisational structure allows the workers themselves to own and have rights over the functioning of the platforms, unlike the current corporatized model.
Ms. Ts. Sha'azim Ibhaidullah Dadameah, a Visiting Lecturer at the National Defence University of Malaysia, University Kuala Lumpur, Sunway University, and Lancaster University presented on “Digital Innovation for Cooperatives: The way Forward”. He talked about the relevance of digitalisation in the post-pandemic world and the opportunities for cooperatives in emerging sectors.
Mr. Mohit Dave, Secretary, ICA-AP CCR moderated the webinar. He mentioned that the ICA-AP CCR was established in the year 2,000 to promote and support the initiation and furtherance of research activities within cooperatives and research organizations at regional, national and local levels, to enhance their social and economic effectiveness. It has members working in the field of research and academia and those in the member organisations of the ICA in Asia-Pacific region. During its 22 years of existence, it has organized several regional research conferences and local seminars. He thanked the presenters and hoped it will inspire the participants to go back to the core of the cooperative ideological framework in implementing technology platforms. The recording of the colloquium can be accessed here.
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