Green Jobs in Asia - Indonesia

To deepen ILO constituents understanding and commitments for the promotion of Gender sensitive green jobs opportunities and a just transition for workers and employers towards a low-carbon, climate resilient, environmentally friendly development in Indonesia.

Project background

Many countries in Asia and the Pacific have voluntarily committed to reducing green house gas emissions by 2020 or carbon intensity per unit of GDP. In this regard, engaging the Asian economy into an environmentally sustainable and low carbon development path will bring profound and lasting adjustments to the socio-economic structures of countries in the region. The transformation into a sustainable and low-carbon development will therefore trigger shifts in the labour markets and create demand for new skills and re-skilling programs, and social protection and financial schemes in particular for the most exposed workers and businesses.

The effects of climate change and the resulting policies on the world of work are not always fully understood and in some cases considered a drain on the economy and competitiveness. Whereas in fact, most recent studies show that climate-smart policies can bring environmental, economic and social benefits together.

The changes in production and consumption patterns that are called for in the drive towards a climate friendly economy require incorporating the social, gender and employment dimensions into decision making. The labour authorities and the social partners (ILO constituents) involvement in the development of inclusive and coherent climate policies are required. However, commitment at the highest political level will be required to ensure that environmental policy debates can address the gender and social dimension more prominently and that job recovery policies can take a more environmentally sustainable path.

Project description

The project directly contributes to the national programs and initiatives relating to climate change, environment and disaster management and recovery from the economic crisis. Through enhanced capacity of ILO constituents, sound policy guidance, the undertaking of gender-responsive field activities on green employment in specific economic sectors, the project aims to assist five Asian countries including Indonesia in shifting to a low-carbon, environmentally friendly and climate resilient economy that helps accelerate the jobs recovery, reduce social gaps, support development goals and realize decent work.

It is envisaged that upon completion of the project, ILO constituents and national partners will be knowledgeable about the impacts of climate policies on the labour market and the potential for gender responsive green jobs creation/maintenance. They will have acquired the capacity and the elements to take part in the national discussions on climate change and to respond to these changes, including in the context of the development and implementation of DWCPs. They will also contribute to developing specific policies and programs for the promotion of green jobs employment opportunities in critical sectors.

Project strategy

The immediate objective of this project would be:

  • Promote the capacity of ILO constituents to engage in dialogue on green jobs through increased access to reliable sources of data and information on green jobs and training, including on the employment impacts of environment-related policies and good practices on green jobs;
  • Green jobs mainstreamed in national labour and social policy of participating countries;
  • Green Jobs demonstration programs which respond to the different needs of women and men, implemented in key sectors selected based on the basis of research and consultations.

The ILO constituents will be a key project target group with a view to creating the long-term capacity and the conditions of social dialogue to mainstream green jobs into social and employment policy, integrate Green Jobs policies into the Decent Work Country Programs (DWCP), contribute actively to climate and environment related policies at the national level, and facilitate a just transition for enterprises and workers towards a low-carbon, environmentally friendly economy.

Main activities

  • Develop an integrated set of country and sector based studies, including a country study on environment-employment linkages and assessment of the potential for green jobs creation and decent work;
  • Develop a set of tools to review challenges and opportunities for green jobs and relevant green jobs publication;
  • Develop training courses for constituents and national partners for the creation of green jobs and the greening of economies, enterprises and employment on a larger scale;
  • Convene a national green jobs conference on each participating country;
  • Setting-up a tripartite task force on green jobs, policy briefs and training to support policy development; and
  • Demonstration project and support to national programs for the promotion of green jobs employment opportunities in key sectors, such as waste management and recycling, natural resources management, energy efficiency and the greening of traditional sectors.

Key partners

  • Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration
  • Ministry of Environment
  • Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo)
  • All Indonesian Workers Union Confederation Pasar Minggu (KSPSI Pasar Minggu)
  • All Indonesian Workers Union Confederation Kalibata (KSPSI Kalibata)
  • Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI)
  • Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union Confederation (KSBSI)