Promoting Green Jobs and Just Transition among local governments and farmers’ communities in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Under the PAGE framework, ILO organized, on 24-26 November, a workshop and discussions in Chiang Mai to build the capacity of local government, SMEs and farmers’ communities on promoting Green Jobs and Just Transition in the sustainable agriculture sector through institutional strengthening and social dialogue. This was an opportunity for ILO to introduce the Just Transition guidelines and its application. Participants also received advice on local income generation and Green Jobs opportunities as well as skills needed for sustainable agriculture based on the findings of the ILO Green Jobs assessment and case study analysis.

Thailand’s economy is shifting towards a greener economy to enhance the potential for realising sustainable development objectives. The transition to more sustainable agriculture can deliver more employment opportunities and better working conditions.

“The UN Secretary is giving attention to Green Jobs, green skills and a Just Transition which are part of the green economy”, said Suwimol Wattanawiroon, PAGE Thailand National Coordinator. “Young farmers in Chiang Mai have been very successful in implementing organic agriculture”, added Nittayaporn Wiangtong, Skills Development Technical Officer at the Chiang Mai Institute for Skills Development.

Participants discussed some challenges with Thailand’s greening policies, including the clarification of green jobs definitions, improving the representation of civil society and trade unions in social dialogue, and the need for analysis of the employment impact in the green economy.

Wasana Sittirin, ILO Consultant for PAGE Thailand, highlighted recommendations, including raising awareness of green jobs and just transition, better coordination mechanisms to implement the SDGs, and more financial support for green technologies.

The 3-day event started with a capacity building workshop organised on 24 November, Muang District, Chiang Mai, followed by an on-site knowledge tour to Mae Chaem District on 25-26 November 2022. The workshop and knowledge tour were conducted with in-person attendance.

The objectives of the event

• Enhance the awareness and understanding of local stakeholders of Green Jobs and Just Transition, with a focus on the transition toward sustainable agriculture,
• Advise on local income generation/Green Jobs opportunities as well as skills needs for sustainable agriculture based on the findings of the ILO Green Jobs assessment and case study analysis,
• Raise the awareness and build the capacity of local government, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)/farmer communities to actively participate in Green Jobs and Just Transition promotion in sustainable agriculture through institutional strengthening and social dialogue.

PAGE in Thailand

PAGE Green Recovery Programme in Thailand aims to accelerate progress towards inclusive, green, and sustainable development in collaboration with the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) as the Government Focal Point.

Thailand joined PAGE in 2019. UNIDO and ILO are leading implementing agencies. UNIDO acts as the main coordinating agency for the PAGE project in Thailand.

Since 2013, PAGE brings together five UN agencies – UN Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) – whose mandates, expertise and networks combined can offer integrated and holistic support to countries on inclusive green economy, ensuring coherence and avoiding duplication.

Sources: ILO event, ILO news, PAGE