STRUCTURE AND BASIC ACTIVITIES

Over than 400 co-operatives with more than 40000 co-operators are members of the NUWPC.Following the territorial principle , the co-operatives are unified in regional unions as a component of then national Union.The co-operatives are private small and medium size enterprises with the staff of 30 to 500 people , most of them having between 100 and 200 workers.In accordance with the co-operative principles , the property of a co-operative belongs to all its members and is managed by the General Assembly and the Board of Managers.

The NUWPC comprises also and 37 specialized co-operatives for labor readjusted and handicapped persons.More than 7000 co-operators with various physiological and psycho-somatic diseases and defects work in them.Under the terms of the normative requirements they represent 50 % of the workers directly involved in the production process.In the transition period of Bulgaria to the market economy their survival and prosperity are of a first rate priority to the Union.

The basic activity of the cooperatives represented by the Union is the production of goods for every day life and rendering services to the population.

The range of the products  includes :

1. Clothes for babies, children, women and men made of textile and knitted fabrics, embroidery and hand –knitting;

2. Working clothes , sleeping linen, blankets, long and short –pile carets;

3. Products of metal, machines and devices, spare parts;

4. Furniture , woodwork, wooden parts and products;

5. Shoes and accessories for clothes; haberdashery of textile and leather;

6. Souvenirs of precious metals , cooper, wood and ceramics; children toys;

7. Everyday chemistry and plastic products; car cosmetics;

8. Polygraphic activity;

9. Baker’s and confectionery, soft drinks etc.

A great part of the cooperatives have their own retail shops through which they trade with their own products and other commodities.

Some of the cooperatives have win a prestige international rewards for high quality, functionality and design of their products.

COOPERATIVE POLICY, OBJECTIVES, TASKS

The NUWPC defines the strategy of the co-operative system and follows a unified policy to protect the co-operative interests t:

	Develops directives for the development of the system, including projects for participation in the European programs;
	Develops standpoints and suggestions for changes in the legislative and normative basis;
	Assists in the re-establishment of the once expropriated co-operatives and in returning their property;
	Provides for its members with marketing , financial –economical and scientific –technical information;
	Organizes all the activity in connection with the education and qualification of the co-operative staff ;
	Assists in the integration of the co-operatives with leading Bulgarian and foreign companies for technological and structural renovation of the production and for the extension of the markets;
	Provides for diverse organizational , methodological and juridical help for its members;
	Provides additional pension insurance by the Voluntary Pension fund of the holding Cooperator;
	Offers combine insurance Life by the Bulgarian Mutual Insurance Co-operative , a company established in 1998;
	By its insurance mediator MKP Daga , the Union offers the full range of the Property insurance of all lycenced insurance companies in Bulgaria;
	Performs auditing activity;
	Widens its collaboration with similar organizations from other countries

The specialized direction *Labor Rehabilitation in the Producers’ Co-operatives for Handicapped People * at the NUWPC assists in the following activities:

	Adopting of the specific protective legislation ;
	Tax and credit alleviation’s;
	Subsidizing of the labor and health rehabilitation out of the state budget ;
	Social integration of the people with damaged health.

The NUWPCB through its Chairman participates in the work of the following two Boards of Managers: the National Council for Rehabilitation and Social Integration of the Handicapped and the National Fund Rehabilitation and Social Integration.With an Act of the Bulgarian Council of the Ministers the Union is aknowledged as a National Representative Organization of the disabled.

The NUWPC pays special attention to the education of young and future co-operators.The integration with the leading establishments for education in Bulgaria plays a basic role in this direction..Together with the University of National and World Economy in Sofia , the NUWPC has established a college for management and industrial business which has its branches in the separate regions of the country.In this way the quality of education by University lectors is combined with the closeness to the working place of the students.

For its members , the NUWPC prepares and publishes the monthly bulletin *Co-operative Review* .Through it the co-operatives are being informed about important happenings in the activity of the Union.Besides, eminent experts make interpretations of various normative , economic and legal documents and give responses to topical issues.Through this bulletin , contacts with trade partners can be realized.

SOCIAL ACTIVITY

The social service of the co-operators takes an important part in the activity of the NUWPC.

With the entering into force of the Code for Social Insurance / 01.01.2000 / , the NUWPCP has established the TURMEDICO s.r.l. in order to assist the NUWPC’s members the health service , the rest and the labor protection.

In the co-operative system of the Union , a holiday houses have been established at the sea and mountain health resorts.They offer a favourable conditions for a good and cheep relaxation of the members co-operators.

The health service of the members co-operators is realized in polyclinics and medical facilities.

A high qualified doctors are accomplishing there a medical rehabilitation for the handicapped people , possessing a various group of  defects.

The medical centres have been registered and work in accordance with the helth law and reform in the health –caring system.

In the co-operative system there are long traditions in the amateur art activities and the educational work among the masses which are realized in the Homes of Culture at the regional unions.The tourist societies and the sport clubs create the conditions required for an active rest of the co-operators and their families.