Coop Sweden has signed a new framework agreement that will see the retailer source employees from Samhall, a group that seeks to provide employment for workers with disabilities.
The agreement, which runs until 2020, will see close to 800 Samhall workers employed in Coop's various locations, on tasks such as cleaning and related ancillary services.
Previously, the retailer used Samhall employees for approximately 50 of its 650 stores around Sweden. Following this announcement, workers will be hired at some 200 stores, with the group looking to expand on this figure in the near future.
Long Tradition
"Coop has a long tradition of working sustainably," said Coop chief executive Sonat Burman-Olsson. "It is work we usually do with our suppliers, and I am therefore particularly happy about our new agreement with Samhall, which can integrate this social utility into our business concept."
Monica Lingegård, chief executive of Samhall, said that the agreement is further evidence that the group continues to "strengthen and develop the Swedish business sector".
Samhall, which is owned by the Swedish government, has operations in around 200 locations across Sweden and over 20,000 employees, making it the 'world leader in creating stimulating work for persons with disabilities', according to the group.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
