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ASEAN member states adopt 3 key documents for region-wide employees

At the 25th ASEAN Labour Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Human Resource Minister M. Kulasegaran announced the adoption of three vital documents:

  1. ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity and Inclusive Growth of ASEAN Community;
  2. Action Plan to implement the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers;
  3. List of ASEAN-OSHNET initiatives to implement the ASEAN Labour Minister's Statement on improving Occupational Safety and Health for Sustainable Economic Growth.

This was done on behalf of all Labour Ministers from all ASEAN member states and its Plus Three Dialogue Partners, namely China, Japan and South Korea.

He affirmed: "Promoting green jobs will include producing decent employment opportunities, enhancing resource efficiency and creating low-carbon societies.

"This is a very good achievement, and a win-win for ASEAN and Malaysia."

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This corroborates Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's announcement in November 2018, revealing Malaysia's aims to promote green jobs and skills in ASEAN over the next few years.  According to Bernama, Dr Mahathir had said Malaysia hopes to develop corresponding regional policies regarding green industries during the three-year period from 2018 to 2020.

Further, he added: "Let us embark on our journey immediately. Malaysia will do its best to take the labour sector forward by incorporating green jobs and skills into the aegis of our chairmanship."

These efforts align with a string of continuous efforts by the Malaysian government and companies in boosting the growth of the green sector. In 2017, the Green Technology Master Plan was announced with an aim to create more than 200,000 green jobs by 2030, with a targeted revenue of RM180 billion.

The country's energy, green technology and water (KeTTHA) minister, Datuk Seri Maximus Johnity Ongkili, had unveiled the master plan at the 8th International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2017). He said: "The GTMP lays the foundation for a holistic shift in Malaysia's approach to socio-economic development, while adhering to the principles of sustainability."

Photo / 123RF

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