Women workers across South Asia are forming cooperatives to transform unpaid and informal work into decent jobs, expanding access to affordable care services and strengthening economic empowerment, according to a press release by the International Labour Organization (ILO) issued on 31 July 2026. From cotton farmers in Madhya Pradesh and domestic workers in Bihar to care workers in Nepal and nursery teachers in Sri Lanka, women are coming together to build enterprises they own and govern collectively. The movement coincided with the International Day of Cooperatives on 4 July 2026, held under the theme "Cooperatives for a Peaceful World". First celebrated by the International Cooperative Alliance in 1923 and officially recognized by the United Nations in 1995, the observance highlights cooperatives' contribution to sustainable development, social inclusion and peace. Collective ownership is emerging as a practical pathway to decent work.