Today in Tashkent, under the auspices of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO/ACTRAV) Bureau for Workers’ Activities, a two-day International Conference titled “The New Social Contract: The Perspective of Trade Unions in Europe and Central Asia” commenced. Kazakhstan is represented at the conference by a delegation led by the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (FTURK), and Vice President of the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Satybaldy Dauletalin.
In her welcoming remarks, ILO/ACTRAV Director Maria Helena André expressed gratitude to colleagues for their tireless efforts in shaping and implementing the New Social Contract for the benefit of workers.
Addressing the conference participants, Satybaldy Dauletalin defined the concept of “polycrisis,” where global crises intensify, accelerate, and synchronize, posing severe threats to the well-being of people and the planet.
According to Satybaldy Dauletalin, the vulnerability of workers has significantly increased due to the changing conditions of both their professional and personal environments, a trend particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He emphasized that trade unions recognize the threats posed by the economy of the future, including transformations in the labor market.
“The rapid degradation of the environment due to unsustainable human activity leads to job reductions, violations of labor standards, insecurity, and poverty. Here are some figures from official UN documents in 2021: approximately 40% of all internal conflicts worldwide over the last 60 years have been caused by disputes over natural resources.
Global paper consumption has risen by 400% in the last 40 years, with over one billion trees being felled annually for production. Air pollution causes over 7 million deaths worldwide each year, with more than one-third of these attributed to cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory conditions, and lung cancer. By 2050, it is projected that 70% of the world’s population will live in cities, making air quality a significant health threat for urban residents,” shared the PERC Vice President.
To address these and other ecological challenges, S.Dauletalin stated that Central Asian countries need technological transformation and rapid exchange of effective, affordable green technologies that restore and preserve the environment. Solving these issues requires joint efforts from all Central Asian partners.
“Kazakhstan’s proposal to establish a Central Asian Project Office on climate issues is a significant step toward developing collective measures for climate adaptation. This initiative positions the region as an active participant in the global fight against climate change. Kazakhstan has set ambitious goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and serve as Central Asia’s Climate Hub for sustainable development,” Dauletalin said.
Kazakhstan was among the first Central Asian countries to sign the Paris Agreement. According to its green economy transition strategy, the country aims to increase GDP by 3% by 2050, raise the share of renewable energy sources (RES) to 15% by 2030, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% from 1990 levels by 2030.
The ILO predicts that more than half of the global workforce—equivalent to 1.5 billion people, will be affected in some way by the transition to a green economy. For example, employment in the alternative energy sector is expected to grow from 4.2 million to 20 million by 2030.
The FTURK Chairman presented several initiatives to the forum participants:
– Developing employment policies focused on creating green jobs that reduce environmental impact and improve ecological conditions. According to ILO data, the green economy could generate 15–60 million jobs worldwide, reducing unemployment and benefiting the environment.
– Training workers in new skills required for green industries.
– Ensuring economic incentives for employers to create green jobs.
– Drafting legislation to regulate green employment.
Calculations indicate that increasing environmental investment in fixed assets by 1% could reduce unemployment by 0.68%. Financing sources for green job creation could include banks and public-private partnerships. Investing in energy- and resource-saving technologies helps restore and preserve the environment and creates new, decent jobs and modernizes outdated ones, boosting employment.
- Dauletalin emphasized several key policy areas for a smooth transition to a green economy:
- Education: A new training policy, focusing on skill development and knowledge exchange, is needed to prepare workers for changes in the labor market.
2.Entrepreneurship: Policies should encourage investments in innovative solutions for large and small corporations.
- Social Policy: Priority should be given to ensuring decent wages, safe working conditions, and adequate social protections, especially since over 70% of the world’s population lacks basic social security.
4.Tripartite Dialogue: Strengthening the role of social dialogue between governments, employers, and workers is critical for achieving consensus on labor safety and green economy transitions.
- Legal Mechanisms: Social support systems must be reformed to facilitate workers’ transitions into new economic sectors, with a special focus on youth.
- Access to Information: Workers should have guaranteed access to information, education, and professional training at all levels, including the workplace.
In conclusion, S. Dauletalin stated that the FTURK firmly believes that social Dialogue is the most effective tool for implementing climate action measures.
During the two-day conference, representatives from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Estonia, as well as experts from the UN and ILO, will share their perspectives and plans for implementing the New Social Contract. The forum will conclude with joint recommendations for social partners.
FTURK Media Center