DOLE research arm focuses on Green Jobs

How workers and industry can cope with the impact of climate change takes center stage as the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS), the research arm of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) holds its annual policy research conference dubbed “Strategic Conversations,” in Manila on July 29-31.

“Green Jobs,” the new by-word in labor policy and environmental protection is one of the fields of research done by the Labor Department through the ILS. Green jobs has recently been underscored as one of the priorities of the Arroyo administration and a potential multi-sectoral response to the global financial crisis.

In her research paper entitled “From Jobs to Green Jobs: A Just Transition Framework,” ILS Executive Director Cynthia Cruz describes “green jobs as not a new set of specific job classifications.” She said that they “refer to person-hours involved, representing a broad category of work to be done in a range of productive activities in realizing the new clean economy transformation.”

She noted that “investments in transitioning the economy away from carbon-intensive energy, minimizing degradation of our natural resources, maximizing the efficient use of our natural capital and protecting humans and the planet from pollution and waste give rise to a new demand for labor. These green investments as they are called, are expected to create measurable impacts on employment as these now become the source of new green jobs.”

“It is imperative that we continue the process of greening the workplace,” said Julius Cainglet, spokesperson of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW). The FFW started implementing programs to reduce industrial waste, promote recycling and stop the contamination of water systems in several factories in Bulacan and Laguna.

“The FFW supports the conclusion of the research which underscores the need to convert establishments into more environment-friendly workplaces. Not only will this mitigate the impact of climate change, it will also create more jobs in the labor-intensive process of conversion,” said Cainglet.

Launched at Casino Español along Kalaw St., Manila, the main objective of the Stategic Conversations is to “bridge policy, research and practice” as it convenes policy-makers and its main social partners—workers and employers.

Strategic Conversations is the first time that DOLE, social partners and the legislature will exchange views on labor policy today.  It is through this exchange of perspectives that the ILS hopes that policies better attuned to the needs of the workforce and in sync with the demands of the times can be created by legislators.

Research associates of ILS will be presenting papers on work it is doing in labor policy support and implementation.  Aside from research results on Green Jobs, research findings on the labor market, migration, the ASEAN socio-cultural community, principles for reforms in labor policy, workers welfare and the unemployment insurance scheme will also be presented.