Amman: The General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU) is participating in a regional workshop focused on financing a "just transition" to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy in the Middle East and North Africa. The workshop aims to explore funding strategies for climate and green industrial policies while safeguarding jobs, ensuring skills development, and maintaining social protection for workers.
According to Jordan News Agency, the two-day workshop is organized by the Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) in collaboration with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and is held in Amman. It gathers labor unions and international federations from Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Algeria, and Morocco, along with international organizations and research institutions. The participants aim to discuss climate transition pathways and worker-centered green industrial policy in national, regional, and international contexts.
GFJTU President Khaled Fanatsah, in his opening remarks, highlighted that Jordan's hosting of the workshop underscores trust in the Jordanian trade union movement's role as a crucial national partner. He emphasized the movement's involvement in enhancing social dialogue, defending workers' rights, and shaping policies related to sustainable development and the green economy. Fanatsah pointed out the challenges posed by rapid changes in energy policy and production models, particularly concerning job stability, skills requirements, and social protection. He advocated for the "just transition" framework as the most effective way to ensure these changes are equitable, protect workers' rights, and create decent and sustainable employment opportunities.
ATUC Executive Secretary Hind Benammar remarked that the climate transition in the Arab region is fundamentally about social justice, rather than a purely technical decision or a political luxury. The workshop covers various topics, including the international financial architecture for climate transition, the role of multilateral development banks, the debt crisis, strategies to protect workers' rights in internationally financed projects, and union-led national experiences on how climate policies impact labor markets.