Nepal to take part in green job initiative

Nepal is taking part in a regional meeting 'Green Jobs' that is expected to examine new ways of generating green employment opportunities.

"Government, employer and worker representatives from ten countries — Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, China, Fiji, India, Malaysia and Thailand — in the Asia-Pacific region will gather in Surabaya, Indonesia this week to examine new ways of generating green employment opportunities, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

"The region’s growing interest in the move toward 'green jobs' creates opportunities for a just transition for workers and employers in the pursuit and advancement of low-carbon, climate resilient, environmentally friendly economic development," it said, adding that the Green Jobs in Asia Regional Conference on August 29–31 is hosted by the government of Indonesia, and convened by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Surabaya, East Java.

The minister of Manpower and Transmigration of Indonesia H A Muhaimin Iskandar will open the conference that is expected to draw more than 80 participants from across the Asia-Pacific region, according to the ILO that defines green jobs as decent and productive employment that helps to reduce negative environmental impacts, ultimately leading to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies.

The ILO launched the Green Jobs in Asia project in 2010. Supported by the Australian Government – ILO Partnership Agreement (2010–2015), the project’s main objective has been to develop the capacity of ILO constituents and national partners by strengthening policies and promoting opportunities for green jobs in five participating countries including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Participants from an additional five countries — China, Fiji, India, Malaysia and Thailand — have also been invited to the conference. Together, the delegates will examine proven green jobs employment models developed with technical assistance from the ILO’s Green Jobs in Asia Project.

The employment models leverage opportunities for renewable energy, sustainable construction, municipal waste recycling and sustainable tourism. The conference will highlight efforts to mainstream green jobs policies at national and regional levels as well as to strengthen the commitment to green jobs of actors in the world of work. It will also examine emerging ‘greening’ enterprises as well as green entrepreneurship and youth employment opportunities.

Drawing on policy innovations and lessons learnt from all 10 participating countries the conference will allow for the exchange of information on a variety of supportive policies and mechanisms related to green jobs and sustainable development, it said, adding that it will also promote further interregional cooperation and action for reducing poverty through green jobs.

"The countries of Asia and the Pacific identified green jobs as a priority area for policy development last December at the ILO’s 15th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting in Kyoto, Japan,” said officer-in-charge of the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Thetis Mangahas.

"The Green Jobs in Asia Conference in Surabaya represents a great opportunity to press forward with that mandate by further engaging governments, employers' and workers’ organisations in an in-depth discussion on past achievements as well as new ideas for the creation and sustainability of green jobs across the region," she added.

The Green Jobs in Asia project is part of the ILO’s Green Jobs Initiative, the result of a partnership established in 2007 between the ILO, the UN Environment Programme and the International Trade Union Confederation. The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) joined in 2008.