Law on cooperatives

Law on cooperatives

From Media Indonesia

One of the three main pillars of our economy after state-owned companies and private enterprises is cooperatives. All three are based on the principle of togetherness.

It seems that the two sectors -- the government and private sectors -- have evolved to a stage of stability, while cooperatives have yet to reach steadfastness. What makes this difference?

In fact, the state company PT. Pusri (fertilizer company) has worked in cooperation with Village Cooperatives Unit (KUD) in channeling fertilizer. But the cooperation is confined only to marketing the products, not in production and shares ownership.

Cooperation between cooperatives and the other sectors is still based on emotion rather than on the principles of partnership required by Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution. In other words, the steadfastly developed sector should help the less-developed partner, until ideally the two can evolve together on equal footing.

There must be a common interpretation of what is meant by economic togetherness. Therefore, a software instrument should be established, for example, by introducing a law on cooperation between the three sectors mentioned earlier to ensure that the system is concretely implemented. The private sector still bases its philosophy on colonial law products: the Civil Law and Trade Law.

The new national law, produced by the government in conjunction with the People's Representatives, will guarantee inclusion of the people's aspiration in the cooperation.

SUKPANDIAR

Palembang, South Sumatra