JWCU represents and unites worker cooperatives throughout Japan. Each worker cooperative is owned and democratically controlled by the worker-members and dedicated to creating jobs to promote the well-being of communities through associated work of the members and community residents. Our businesses include: social services, building maintenance, environmental services, food and agriculture, inter-coop contracts. Since the beginning of 21st century, a growing number of social services have been outsourced to private and non-government sectors. Taking this opportunity, JWCU started to set up “Community Welfare Centers” to provide a new type of social services that involve citizens in management and activities in a co-operative style.