MADRID – 2025/06/04 14:29:46 – The President of the Spanish Business Confederation of Social Economy (CEPES), Juan Antonio Pedreño, met with the Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo García, to advance collaborative strategies aimed at strengthening the commitment to equality, diversity, and co-responsibility within the social economy.

The discussion highlighted the crucial role of the social economy as a business model deeply committed to equality.Notably, women hold 52% of jobs within the social economy, establishing this model as a significant player in achieving labor equity. Moreover, the social economy is at the forefront of including women with disabilities or those at risk of social exclusion, ensuring the integration of vulnerable populations through sustainable, quality employment. Significant progress is being made in sectors like agri-food and fishing.

Juan Antonio Pedreño emphasized during the meeting: “With good equality policies it contributes to reducing social and territorial inequalities; in this, the social economy has won an indisputable prominence that will undoubtedly continue to consolidate and progress.Our economic model is firmly committed to equality.”

Beyond promoting equality in access and career advancement, the social economy champions the co-responsibility and reconciliation of personal and professional lives. Social economy enterprises are actively implementing innovative measures to foster inclusive, respectful, and participatory work environments, reinforcing their role as drivers of social cohesion and economic advancement.

Ana Redondo garcía voiced her strong support for CEPES and other social economy entities, acknowledging their importance as engines of social innovation and benchmarks in applying effective equality policies. She also pledged to enhance collaboration to showcase the successful practices already in place within the social economy.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to explore new avenues for collaboration and create platforms for dialog and cooperation. This aims to further elevate the social economy’s role as a leader in building a more equitable, diverse, and co-responsible society.

Key Initiatives and Commitments

the meeting underscored several key initiatives and commitments designed to promote equality and inclusion within the social economy:

• Joint strategies to reinforce the commitment to equality, diversity, and co-responsibility.
• Leadership in the inclusion of women with disabilities or at risk of social exclusion.
• Promotion of co-responsibility and reconciliation of personal and work life.
• Creation of inclusive, respectful, and participatory work environments.

“With good equality policies it contributes to reducing social and territorial inequalities…”

Future Collaboration

Both CEPES and the Ministry of Equality are committed to ongoing collaboration to ensure the social economy continues to be a model for equality and inclusion. This includes:

• Strengthening collaboration to highlight best practices.
• Opening new lines of work to further boost the role of the social economy.
• Establishing spaces for dialogue and cooperation.