Co-Op Society

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A Co-Op Society in Sulaibikhat, Kuwait

Co-Op Societies (

Arabic: جمعية تعاونية jamʕīya taʕāwunīya), often shortened to Co-Op, refer to public organizations that are set up in each area of Kuwait and to provide services to its residents.[1] These services mainly manifest in setting up grocery and convenience stores in each area, but Co-Op societies also often include a variety of different stores, both operated by the Co-Op and rented to private entities. There are around 60 Co-Ops in operation today, making up around 60–70% of retail trade in Kuwait.[2]

The residents of each area elect the board of their Co-Op on a yearly basis. Citizens in each area can become contributing members with voting power and receive a percentage of their purchases back annually.[3] Some Co-Ops play a vital role in their community beside their commercial activity. For example, Co-Ops often provide support and/or donations to different local events and institutions such as schools. During the Iraqi invasion in 1990, Co-Ops played a major role in providing food and medicine, as well as support for residents and resistance groups.[4]

Comprising 70% of the retail trade in

International Cooperative Alliance as of March 1981.[5][6] All the cooperative society come under the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies.[7]

There have been some attempts to privatize some of the Co-Ops. However, the response to such a move has generally been critical.[8][9]

Some Co-Ops face issues of corruption, negligence, and/or mishandling. The grocery department of

Dasma and Bnēd il-Gār Co-Op, for example, was replaced by a private grocery store following litigation and corruption allegations.[10] The government dissolved the boards of Jābrīya Co-Op and Fahad il-Aḥmad Co-Op over "grave financial and administrative errors",[11] though in Jabriya's case, the board was reinstated following a court order.[12]

References

  1. ^ "number of stores". Archived from the original on 2013-08-03. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
  2. ^ https://www.thenews.coop/172771/sector/retail/kuwait-co-ops-oppose-government-privatisation-plans/
  3. ^ https://e.gov.kw/sites/kgoenglish/Pages/Services/MOSAL/ConditionsForContributing-CooperativeSocieties.aspx
  4. ^ https://www.kuwaittimes.com/co-ops-major-role/
  5. ^ "Kuwait Today". State of Kuwait. Al Diwan Al Amiri. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  6. ^ "Kuwait's Co-ops play significant economic, social role". Kuwait News Agency. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
  7. ^ "Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies".
  8. ^ https://www.thenews.coop/172771/sector/retail/kuwait-co-ops-oppose-government-privatisation-plans/
  9. ^ https://www.zawya.com/en/world/middle-east/no-to-privatization-of-co-ops-in-kuwait-x5nya1lx
  10. ^ https://www.kuwaittimes.com/co-ops-major-role/
  11. ^ http://www.alwasat.com.kw/ArticleDetail.aspx?id=116731
  12. ^ https://nabd.com/s/89667731-56f613/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%84
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