Fo.Co. was founded in 2012 by a group of people with diverse professional backgrounds, already established and accomplished in their respective fields, who—driven by a strong inner motivation—decided to take a chance on innovating the world of social cooperation. They were united by a shared rejection of the widespread model of speculative reception, in which migrants are treated merely as numbers that generate income.

Fo.Co. is a young organization that, in just over a decade, has grown both in terms of activities and human resources, all within the complex context of Southern Italy. In an area where job opportunities can be limited, Fo.Co. has distinguished itself through its ability to create skilled jobs, thereby contributing to the economic and social well-being of the community.

AVERAGE AGE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

One element that makes us particularly proud is the average age of our employees and collaborators, which is around 40 years old: a factor that represents enormous added value for the organization thanks to the combination of experience, stability, competence, openness to change, and leadership capacity.

Another noteworthy point is Fo.Co.’s sensitivity to equal opportunities: policies are implemented, inclusive practices are promoted, and barriers are removed to ensure that all employees, regardless of gender, have the same opportunities for growth and success.

The result of these good practices, in 2024, led to the following figures:

• 57 employees under contract per the National Collective Labor Agreement (CCNL) for Cooperatives

• 28 women

• 29 men

• 41 employees with permanent contracts

• 16 employees with fixed-term contracts

• 38 employees with full-time contracts

• 19 employees with part-time contracts

• 1 employee with a disadvantage status

• 17 occasional assignments, allocated to 3 women and 14 men respectively

• 9 young volunteers of the Universal Civil Service, of whom 8 are young women and 1 is a young man

• 1 professional assignment

CONTINUOUS TRAINING AND WORKPLACE SAFETY

It is no coincidence, then, that company policy includes continuous training for staff, aimed at fostering the development of each individual’s skills and enhancing both the specific and transversal abilities of employees, with the goal of creating the most stimulating and collaborative work environment possible.

The company also promotes active policies for workplace safety training, recognizing the importance of safety for reasons ranging from protecting workers’ health to ensuring legal compliance.

JOB CLASSIFICATION, CONTRACT TYPES, AND CORPORATE WELFARE POLICIES

From the standpoint of contractual classification, Fo.Co. adopts a responsible approach toward its workers, aware that this contributes to the social sustainability of the organization and to the well-being of employees and their families, who operate in a fairer and more motivating work environment.

The cooperative applies the National Collective Labor Agreement for social cooperatives to its employees and collaborators, seeking wherever possible to offer improved conditions. To this end, corporate welfare policies are promoted to support the balance between work and personal life, recognizing the importance of the psychophysical well-being of its collaborators.

Indeed, one of the most significant aspects of Fo.Co.’s work is the strong, all-encompassing social impact the organization has on the local area.

STRUCTURE OF GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT BODIES

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MEMBERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Fo.Co.’s members are active participants in all aspects of the cooperative’s social life, beyond their individual roles and/or responsibilities.

The General Assembly of Members represents the true governing body of the cooperative, within which all strategic and policy decisions are made, ensuring continuity of the founding values and statutory principles.

The Board of Directors, on the other hand, is composed of 4 of the cooperative’s members, each with many years of experience in the field of social cooperation. As the executive body, the Board of Directors is responsible for the management and strategic direction of the cooperative, translating the decisions made by the General Assembly into concrete actions.