7 March, 2012In a trade union workshop on climate change and green jobs, 6-7 March 2012 at New Delhi, Indian trade unions agreed to create a new alliance that will set a benchmark throughout the industrial world's workforce.
INDIA: Trade unions representing over one million members today agreed to create a new alliance that will set a benchmark throughout the industrial world's workforce. The alliance will seek to partner with industry and government to build the skills necessary to underpin a green economy. Also addressing climate change issues and the need to tackle the many challenges that India will face, as it continues to become an economic powerhouse.
The Alliance calls on the Indian Government to encourage partnerships by investing in capacity building and developing new tools that will set the global standard and tools that are innovative and recognize the need for partners to work together on these issues.
One such tool would be the creation of a national skills observatory that would look at the future needs of industry and work on a comprehensive program to develop those skills. One key role of the observatory would also be to look at best practices throughout the world to provide India with a competitive advantage.
In a recent working paper the World Bank said "Skill shortages remain one of the major constraints to growth in the Indian economy".
Rob Johnston Executive Director at the International Metalworkers' Federation commented at the launch, "The creation of this Alliance means that the Indian Trade Unions are shaping the policy debate. This initiative sets out a vision of a modern dynamic India, the question is if Government and Industry share it."
India has a modern and dynamic trade union movement that can play a vital role in encouraging workers to up-skill and undertake lifelong learning. The Alliance believes that it must do more to promote this role and to establish the unions as a leading advocate on climate change issues.
The role of workers will be integral to the development of a greener economy. Highly skilled jobs will demand a highly skilled workforce. Trade unions can play a unique role in bridging the gap between current skills and those needed in the future. Unions have extensive experience in responding to skill gaps. A proportion of participants in union learning programs lack formal qualifications and, for many, trade union education is the first formal experience of learning since leaving education.
Sudharshan Rao Regional Director International Metalworkers' Federation stated, "In many States the union movement has already played an important role as a link between industry and government and workers. We are offering the opportunity to develop a national strategic partnership to benefit all of India".