Labor

Labor conditions. On May 14th,  the International Labor Organization (ILO) published a report on environmental sustainability and employment, which highlights the importance of the green economy in generating jobs. It emphasizes that national governments should adopt policies aimed at training workers in the skills necessary for the transition to a more environmentally friendly industry. If these policies are successful, more than 24 million jobs will be created by 2030. Otherwise, the increase in global warming will have a negative impact on the productivity of workers worldwide.

In the report “Social Perspectives and Employment in the World 2018: Environmental Sustainability with Employment”, the organization argues that the green economy can lift millions of people out of poverty and provide better livelihoods for future generations. The document notes that in 2017, the amount of waste produced by humans was 1.7 times greater than what the planet is capable of absorbing. Air, water and soil pollution are harmful to workers in terms of health, income, food and productivity. For example, heat shocks will reduce total work hours by 2 percent globally by 2030.

Likewise, States are urged to substitute traditional policies of “extract, manufacture, use and dispose” by others that prioritize the recycling and reconstruction of goods, such as the application of special taxes and ILO standards on safety,  security and workers health. In this way, more than 24 million jobs will be created, and the poverty and vulnerability of the communities will be reduced.

Next steps

The report highlights the relevance of the application of environmental policies to guarantee the creation of employment, the reduction of poverty and vulnerability and the care of the planet. That is why the ILO hopes that States will follow this path. Developing countries, such as those in Latin America, that want to do so will need the help of foreign governments and international organizations, both in financial matters and in know-how.