EFC promotes green economy
Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI
The green economy will create many opportunities for entrepreneurs,
scientists, engineers and decision makers willing to embrace changes,
Employers' Federation of Ceylon Director General Ravi Peiris said.
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Ravi Peiris |
Speaking at the Green Job conference at the Intercontinental Hotel,
he said what the country needs to ensure is that whatever is done in
this process should be done in a manner that will create win-win
outcomes for all members of society and provide solutions to the
challenges on climate change, population growth and other socio economic
factors.
The EFC reiterates its commitment towards promoting this concept
among its membership and the employer community at large in Sri Lanka.
It will also join hands with social partners and the ILO in whatever
efforts that would be made towards reaping the best benefits for the
country through promotion of green jobs.
"This conference will be the stepping stone for us to embark on this
productive and challenging journey," he said.
The Employers' Federation of Ceylon will open new opportunities, new
thoughts and new attitudes among all stakeholders of employment in Sri
Lanka.
He said the Employers' Federation of Ceylon, during its 82 years in
existence, has always worked towards being a socially responsible
Employer Organization, attempting to promote what is best for the
society at large in the sphere of employment. Stability and
sustainability have been the cornerstone of EFC activities and this is
amply demonstrated by the fact that at a time when social dialogue, as
we understand it today was not in vogue, EFC founders emphasized the
importance of dealing with trade unions of workers in ensuring a better
work environment.
Today, as responsible stakeholders, it is necessary to focus not only
on workplace relations and its environment, but look at the macro
picture of how we could sustain, businesses and employment in the light
of what is happening in the real environment.
It has come to a stage that changes are continuing to happen in the
environment which directly impinges not only on the sustainability and
stability of employment but on the very existence of human life and
property.
Therefore, promoting green jobs for a sustainable future is not only
the responsibility of the government but is a joint responsibility of
all who are genuinely interested in the well-being of the society. It is
a fundamental social obligation of everyone. It is only through a
multi-stakeholder dialogue the country can truly move towards the path
of green growth.
Green jobs, as defined by the ILO, are jobs that reduce environmental
impact of enterprises and economic centres, ultimately to sustainable
levels.
However, from an employers' perspective, it is important to
understand and appreciate the strategies that countries should take in
relation to moving towards a green economy will have to depend on the
circumstances of each of these countries, and what is needed is for the
social partners of these countries to be committed towards this goal
with a national focus.
It is not possible for us to generalize about working conditions for
those in green jobs, either now or in the future. As regards decent work
and green jobs, the objective must be for all jobs to aspire to be
decent work.
The EFC reiterates its commitment towards promoting this concept
among its membership and the employer community at large in Sri Lanka.
We will also be happy to join hands with our social partners and the ILO
in whatever efforts that would be made towards reaping the best benefits
for our country through promotion of green jobs.
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