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.

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.