ASEAN addresses Skills Development, Labour Market Needs and Just Transition

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 24 April 2024 - The Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) of Malaysia hosted and organised the two-day ASEAN Green Jobs Forum on 24 to 25 April 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, to address the region's growing demand for green skills and promote a just transition towards a sustainable future. The Forum was supported by the Australian Government through the Aus4ASEAN Digital Transformation and Future Skills Initiative, The Asia Foundation, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Dato' Sri Khairul Dzaimee bin Daud, Secretary General of MOHR Malaysia together with H.E. Tiffany McDonald, Australia's Ambassador to ASEAN opened the Forum. "The ASEAN Green Jobs Forum presented a vital platform for collaboration and action to equip the region with the necessary skills and policies to navigate a sustainable future. By
addressing the evolving needs of the green economy and ensuring a just transition for all, this initiative can contribute significantly to ASEAN's long-term prosperity and environmental well-being," commented Dato' Sri Khairul Dzaimee bin Daud.

Ambassador Tiffany McDonald said, "ASEAN and Australia share a region and a future. Under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we are already collaborating with ASEAN to combat climate change and meaningfully support ASEAN's green energy transition. Australia's green technologies, world-class education, supply chains, financing and investment, can continue to help unlock economic, environmental, and social benefits for the region."

Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio, Jr. of the Labour Relations, Policy, and International Affairs Cluster of the Department of Labour and Employment of the Philippines and Chair of the ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM) highlighted, "With open exchange and interaction, the Forum can therefore be a venue through which the Member States can further explore areas of cooperation in effectively promoting cleaner and greener technologies that will help create green jobs." Furthermore, Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones of the Policy, Planning, and International Affairs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines and Chair of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN) underlined that the "ASEAN region stands at a pivotal juncture. As we confront the triple threat posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, we are called to rethink our approaches to economic growth."

The event brought together key stakeholders including government officials from the labour, environment, education, MSMEs, and youth sectors, and representatives from regional workers' and employers' organisations, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutes, academia, the private sector, as well as international organisations. Through insightful discussions, the Forum sought to address the critical need for green skills and green jobs in the ASEAN region.

Discussion topics at the forum covered crucial areas such as:

• TVET and Skills Development: Building knowledge-sharing platforms, supporting institutions in producing graduates with green skills, addressing skills shortages and enhancing worker capacity in sustainable industries.
• Labour Markets and Policies: Analysing labour market needs, identifying skill gaps, sharing strategies for integrating green jobs into policy frameworks, ensuring occupational safety and health considerations and exploring social protection models for a just transition.
• Environment Considerations: Promoting environmentally sustainable green jobs and industries, developing essential skills and knowledge, and ensuring inclusivity and equity in the transition.
• Private Sector Engagement: Fostering collaboration between governments and private entities to meet future green job demands, exploring financing mechanisms and incentives, and evaluating the impact of private sector innovation on green jobs.
• MSMEs: Supporting green innovation and entrepreneurship in small and medium-sized enterprises, identifying barriers to their transition, and exploring growth opportunities.
• Regional Cooperation: Learning from and sharing best practices with neighbouring countries, facilitating successful coordination across member states, and maximising the impact of ASEAN mechanisms in driving the green jobs agenda.

The Forum contributes to the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity and Inclusive Growth, which serves as a guide for ASEAN Member States in their endeavours to promote green jobs while ensuring environmental sustainability and inclusive economic development within the region.

Please visit https://www.greenjobsforum2024.com/webpage/information/for comprehensive information about the ASEAN Green Jobs Forum.

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