Wan Azizah spells out importance of green jobs

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean labour sector should enhance the capabilty of its workforce by attracting more skilled workers, in particular those relating to green jobs, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

She noted that the promotion of green jobs would include the creation of decent employment opportunities, enhancement of resource efficiency and production of low-carbon societies.

"Green jobs are of utmost importance and according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), they are central in responding to the global challenges of environmental protection, economic development and social inclusion," she said when closing the 25th Asean Labour Ministers' Meeting (ALMM) here yesterday.

Such jobs, she said, would help reduce the consumption of energy and raw materials, decarbonise the environment, preserve and conserve the ecosystem and minimise the production of waste and pollution.

"It's crucial for Asean to engage all stakeholders, including governments, workers and employers as well as non-state actors as the active agents of change to promote greening enterprises, environmental friendly workplace practices and the labour market as a whole," she said.

One of the documents adopted by the Kuala Lumpur meeting was the Asean Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity and Inclusive Growth of the Asean Community.

The two-day meeting was chaired by Human Resource Minister M. Kula Segaran.