• Director-General Balicasan of the National Economic and Development Authority
• Undersecretary Trasmonte, Director Cruz and officials of the Department of Labor and Employment
• Dr Romero of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
• Partners from the government, employers and workers organizations,
• ILO colleagues,
• Ladies and gentlemen, magandang umaga sa inyong lahat (good morning to all of you)!

Let me begin by thanking each of you for participating in the green jobs mapping sector consultation.

The potential for green jobs exists in many countries throughout the world.

For the ILO, the notion of green jobs sums up the transformation of economies, enterprises, workplaces and labour markets into a sustainable, low-carbon economy which provides decent and productive employment to members of our society.

 

The Green Jobs Initiative is a global partnership between the ILO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE).

Jobs are green when they help reduce negative environmental impact towards environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies.

A joint ILO/UNEP study, Working towards Sustainable Development: Opportunities for decent work and social inclusion in a green economy launched in June 2012 revealed that the current development model is unsustainable, not only environmentally, but also from economic, employment and social perspectives.

Whereas, a green economy, with the right policy mix, can create more and better jobs, lift people out of poverty and promote social inclusion.

Ensuring that opportunities for decent work and social inclusion are achieved are key factors towards sustainable, inclusive and greener growth.

Today’s green jobs mapping consultation aims to work on a list of characteristics and attributes of green jobs at each sector; an initial list of occupations manifesting green jobs characteristics within each sector, and a list of transition strategies for green jobs creation and formation.

However, in order to do this correctly, we need to review not just the sector or industry as a whole, but look closely within each sector at the detailed International Standard Industrial Classification or Philippine Standard Industrial Classification level.

We need to also assess whether the jobs, as defined by International Standard Classification of Occupations or Philippine Standard Occupational Classification are indeed green or have a high likelihood of being greened.

The green jobs mapping sector consultation is just the first stage. More needs to be done.

Over the course of more than 25 years of work as an Economist and a Labour Market Analyst, I have worked on occupational and industry classification in order to help identify and help support economic growth and occupational development.

In order to help support this critical phase of the project, I have requested LK from the ILO Manila team to join you today.

Later on, we have to work on a more comprehensive review of occupation codes and patterns in identifying green jobs.

Here in the Philippines, we have previously partnered with the DOLE’s Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics on employment projections. However, green job is an area which we need to map out both by sector and occupation in order to have a meaningful impact.

Our partners – the Philippine government, employers and workers’ organizations and Green Jobs project partners have an important role to make this happen. Making decent and productive work for sustained greener growth a reality remains a significant challenge. It is by working together that we can overcome this challenge and turn it as an opportunity.

Again, welcome and thank you for joining this green jobs mapping sector consultation.

Let me also acknowledge the support of the Government of Australia to the Green Jobs in Asia project and the DOLE Institute of Labor Studies for partnering with us for this green jobs mapping study.

Thank you and Mabuhay!