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OPINION

By Dr Joyce N. Tamale

International Labour Day, celebrated on May 1, traditionally recognises the contribution and struggles of the global workforce. Yet, a growing movement of individuals are forging a new path, blurring the lines between traditional employment and social impact.

These individuals are social entrepreneurs and their work deserves recognition not just on International Labour Day, but every day.

In the context of social entrepreneurship, International Labour Day highlights the importance of creating businesses and initiatives that recognise the triple bottom line of not only generating profit, but also prioritising the well-being and empowerment of workers (people) as well caring about the environment (planet).

Social entrepreneurs strive to address social and environmental issues through innovative business models, often focusing on areas such as fair labour practices, job creation and economic empowerment.

On Labour Day, it is important to acknowledge the role that social entrepreneurs play in creating inclusive and sustainable solutions to labour-related challenges.

Whether it is through providing training and employment opportunities to marginalised communities, promoting ethical sourcing and production practices or advocating worker rights, social entrepreneurs contribute to building a more equitable and just labour ecosystem.

Social entrepreneurs contribute immensely towards change and innovation in a wide variety of fields, including health, enterprise development, education and the environment.

These individuals devote their time to pursuing key social issues, such as poverty alleviation. They approach every project with courage and inspiration.

As a result, they overcome traditional practices and obstacles to bring new ideas. They are inspired by seeing a better work place while making a living.

Why we celebrate social entrepreneurs on International Labour Day

Creation of decent jobs: Social enterprises often operate in underserved communities, providing much-needed employment opportunities with fair wages and healthy working conditions.
Empower marginalised groups: Social enterprises can cater to specific needs, like employing individuals with disabilities or providing flexible work options for women. expand more.
Promote innovation and sustainability: They are constantly innovating to address complex social and environmental challenges, often with a focus on environmental sustainability.
Inclusivity and gender prioritisation
Building a supportive ecosystem for social entrepreneurs.
Fostering a thriving social entrepreneurship ecosystem requires a collective effort from various stakeholders:
Investors and mentorship providers: Organisations like Capital Solutions Limited, incubators and impact investors can play a vital role by providing funding, mentorship and strategic guidance to social enterprises.
Connecting communities and businesses: Events like Demo Days and networking opportunities can connect social entrepreneurs with potential investors, partners, and customers.
Supportive policies: Governments can create a more enabling environment by streamlining regulations and offering tax incentives for social enterprises.

Social entrepreneurship has become a buzzword these days. Being a “social entrepreneur” has become a fad, as we see an increasing number of commercial entrepreneurs claim themselves as ‘social entrepreneurs’. Research has indicated that young people love working with social enterprises because of the triple bottom line effect.

The writer is the founder and CEO of Capital Solutions Ltd

Labour Day: Celebrating social entrepreneurship

Dr Joyce N. Tamale

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