THE governments of countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations must directly invest in green industries and expand domestic productive capacity rather than training workers for jobs that may never exist, a regional labor group warned during a green jobs forum in the Philippines.
The Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) urged governments to align workforce development with concrete investments in renewable energy, green technology, sustainable infrastructure, public transport, agriculture, and fisheries.
‘Asean cannot train its way to a just transition. Governments must invest in green industries, build productive capacity, and create decent jobs-not simply prepare workers for jobs that may never materialize,’ Sentro Secretary General Josua Mata said in a statement.
Mata acknowledged that the Asean Framework and Action Plan for a Just and Inclusive Transition to Green Jobs 2025-2030 creates a foundation for regional cooperation, but emphasized that implementation must address the systemic lack of industries and productive capacity required to generate large-scale employment.
To bridge the gap between training and hiring, the group advocated linking skill programs and apprenticeships directly to funded projects in renewable energy, ecological restoration, low-carbon infrastructure, and essential public services.
Additionally, the group urged governments to make public subsidies and corporate incentives conditional on strict labor standards, including fair wages, secure employment, safe conditions, social protection, freedom of association, and collective bargaining.
‘A just transition is not simply about preparing workers for a changing economy. It is about transforming the economy so that it can deliver decent work, social protection, and a sustainable future for workers and their communities,’ Mata added.
The demand came at the conclusion of the two-day 2026 Asean Green Jobs Forum, where delegates highlighted investment, skills training, and adequate funding as vital to executing the regional framework.
Labor Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres affirmed that the economic shift must generate quality employment while safeguarding vulnerable workers.
‘Our core responsibility is to ensure that this transition creates decent work opportunities for our people, while providing a social protection floor to those whose jobs and livelihoods may be affected,’ Torres said.
She added that Asean must show measurable progress by 2030 in expanding green jobs, adapting workforce skills to shifting labor markets, and distributing the economic benefits more equitably.
Torres outlined three main takeaways from the forum: funneling investments into job-generating green industries, matching skills development with actual market demand, and securing the financing and technical assistance required to carry out the regional action plan.
The Philippines also endorsed technical cooperation-such as mutual recognition of green skills and a proposed Asean Green Jobs Center of Excellence-to guarantee that environmental progress goes hand in hand with decent working conditions across the region.