협동조합법 시행에 따른 여성일자리 확대 방안

Measures to Expand Female Employment in Accordance with the Cooperatives Act

1. 연구목적 및 필요성 □ 협동조합기본법 제정에 대한 필요성과 공감대는 1980년대부터 논의가 있어왔으나 구체적으로 입법화되는 것에는 한계가 있었다. 그러나 2008년 금융위기 이후 협동조합 활성화 필요성 및 개별법 체제의 한계에 대한 공감대 확산으로 기본법 제정을 위한 연구 및 입법절차가 진행되었고 2011년 12월 '협동조합기본법'이 국회 본회의를 통과하여 2012년 12월 1일자로 시행되었다. □ 협동조합기본법 제정으로 협동조합 설립의 활성화를 예측할 수 있는데 특히 다양하고 창의적인 소규모 창업의 활동과 함께 비공식 일자리 여성 근로자의 근로조건의 개선에 대한 기대도 높아지고 있다. 이에 여성들이 다수 종사하고 있는 자활, 돌봄노동단체, 공동육아, 학습지 교사 단체 등에서 협동조합법을 어떻게 인식하고 받아들이고 있는지, 이들이 협동조합(등록) 또는 사회적 협동조합(허가)으로 전환할 때 어떤 인센티브가 작동하며 어떤 변화를 통해 전환이 가능한가에 대한 구체적 검토가 필요한 시점이다. □ 본 연구는 협동조합과 관련하여 협동조합의 정의와 일반적 역할 그리고 관련법에 대한 현황과 여성일자리와 관련한 정책적 쟁점 사항을 살펴본다. 우선 국내외 협동조합 관련 사례분석을 통해 국내 협동조합 발전을 위한 시사점을 발견하고자 한다. 또한 돌봄, 문화예술, 교육서비스 분야 등 관련 단체(자활단체, 아파트 부녀회 등 다양한 단체 포함)들의 협동조합 현황과 협동조합(사회적협동조합)의 전환 가능성 탐색 등을 통해 향후 예측 가능한 이슈 및 정책과 제를 개발하고자 한다.

The need for a Framework Act on Cooperatives have been in consensus and under discussion since the 1980s, though its concrete legislation were met with limitations. However, the 2008 financial crisis saw an increased consensus on the need to invigorate the cooperatives as well as the limitations of an individual legislative system. This led to research and legislative proceedings for a Framework Act and in December 2011, the 'Framework Act on Cooperatives' was passed by the plenary session of the National Assembly to come into effect from December 1st, 2012. The enforcement of the new Framework Act predicts invigorated establishments of cooperatives with high expectations of job creation, expecially since it facilitates start-ups of diverse and creative small businesses. This research will define cooperatives and its general role, as well as examining its current relevant laws and the policy issues related to female employment. We hope to deduct recommendations for the development of Korea's cooperatives through case analysis on both domestic and international cooperatives. Moreover, by exploring the current cooperatives or the possibility of cooperatives (social cooperatives) in areas such as Care, Arts and Culture, Education Services and more, this research uncovers possible issues and policy challenges for the near future. The results of this research predicts that cooperatives will contribute to job stability in relation to female employment. It also predicts that it will play a certain part in contributing to job creation; the cooperatives method facilitates easier start-ups of small businesses, which entails increased employment. The increased employment and job stability from increased start-ups of small businesses will then contribute in shifting the economically non-active population, the majority of which are women, to the economically active population. Therefore, cooperatives can contribute a certain part in increasing female employment by invigorating the local economy. We also advice the following policies with the implementation of the Framework Act: First, strengthen training and consultations to aide understanding of cooperatives through a short-term policy; Second, prepare a support system for the establishment of cooperatives; Third, allow flexibility on licensing social cooperatives and expand the public services market. Suggestions for long-term policy are as follows. First, public education on cooperatives should be considered. Second, there is a need to lay a favorable institutional foundation in enterprise support policies for employment buy-out. Third is the support for consulting work of the cooperative federation for the empowerment of their main bodies.