Employment and Economy

At the Rio+20 Conference, which will be held from 13-22 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, will come together to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet to get to the future we want. One of the themes of Rio+20 is “Green Economy” and in the same vein, the 2012 theme for World Environment Day is Green Economy: Does it include you?

The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. A green development would create economic growth and jobs and have the potential to raise the standard of living for poor people, while maintaining the life-supporting functions of our ecosystems. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.

The concept of green economy has become the centre of policy debates in recent years. It has also been recognised that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Mauritius have to pursue development of a blue-green economy that prioritises their natural assets like fisheries and oceans. Green growth is in fact the path that leads to sustainable development.

 

Each country will create its own green economy design, based on its national realities, the resources available, and the development challenges it faces. In Mauritius, there is a strong commitment to advance the country on the path of green growth. In this regard, initiatives have been taken to promote the use of renewable energy, increase energy efficiency and conservation, promote sustainable consumption and production including efficient use of resources, greening of industries, sustainable public service practices and increase in the use of sustainable products. Efforts are also being made to combat poverty, and raise income levels for the Mauritian population.

 

The promotion of ‘Green Jobs’ is central in the transition towards a greener economy. Green jobs combine poverty alleviation, socio economic development, environmental integrity and adaptation to environmental change. Green jobs include those that help to protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity, reduce energy consumption, raw materials and water through high-efficiency strategies, decarbonize the economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize or altogether avoid the generation of all forms of waste and pollution to protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity. Green jobs reduce the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors, ultimately to levels that are sustainable, while providing decent work and living conditions to all those involved in production, and ensures workers’ rights are respected.

 

The Government of Mauritius is working with other authorities and stakeholders to find ways to stimulate 'green' jobs and green growth. Government's response to the opportunities presented by a low-carbon, sustainable society includes a number of major initiatives to work with business and the community to drive investment in infrastructure and create green jobs. The Government has the biggest workforce in Mauritius and Maurice Ile Durable Fund is committed to helping ensure they have the necessary green skills for a low carbon economy.

 

The Government is promoting green jobs and green skills by:

• creating the Energy Efficiency Training Program to meet the growing demand for a skilled workforce necessary to improve business management and practice in a low carbon economy. The program addresses skills gaps to support the energy efficiency and sustainability of products, services and practices in industry, government and the community.
• developing a resource efficient and cleaner production (RECP) programme including the promotion of the RECP concepts, methods, practices and policies while promoting the greening of industry and encouraging sustainable consumption and production through the strengthening of national capacities.

The Mauritian Government has started many green initiatives, whose collective overall objective is to provide the analysis and policy support for investing in green sectors and in greening environmental unfriendly sectors as well as promoting green jobs and green skills. These initiatives include:
• Finalising and implementing the Decent Work Country Programme;
• Providing further training and employment opportunities for the Youth under the National Youth Employment Programme;
• Promoting green jobs;
• Upgrading Employment Information Centres into “Pole d’Emplois”;
• Creating more space in the SMEs sector; and (not clear)
• Setting up a national employment resource centre with the assistance of the International Labour Office. This centre will offer extensive information on the labour market, job prospects, education and training.
• Introduction of Skills Pledge whereby Employers will commit themselves to invest in continuous training and empowerment of all their employees.