Amman: The General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened a preparatory meeting to draft a union position paper focusing on a just transition and workers' priorities in the context of reviewing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).
According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting, which included climate action experts and specialists, marks the start of a series of consultations with labor unions. GFJTU President Khaled Fanatseh, during the opening session, highlighted the importance of incorporating the labor movement in the formulation of national climate policies. This initiative aims to ensure that workers' perspectives are integrated into the NDC review process, thereby unifying the union's stance on climate change challenges from a labor perspective.
Bashayer Kreishan, head of the GFJTU Green Economy Unit, discussed the longstanding cooperation between the federation and the ILO on just transition and green jobs. She emphasized the importance of drafting a position paper that aligns with the workers' vision and supports their involvement in national policies.
Jawad Dukhgan, the just transition officer at the ILO, elaborated on the concepts of a just transition and green jobs, their relevance to the NDC review process, and the significance of involving workers and unions in climate policy discussions. He also explored the relationship between climate change and the labor market in Jordan.
Ahmad Hijazi, the national coordinator for the NDC Partnership, provided updates on the NDC review process in Jordan, detailing the expected timeline for completion and highlighting opportunities for social partners, especially labor unions, to engage in this process.
Abdul Jawad Al-Natsheh, the consultant responsible for drafting the paper, explained the methodology for preparing the federation's position paper. He delineated its objectives, the consultation plan, implementation mechanisms, and the roles of the federation and the unions.
The meeting included an interactive consultative session where participants discussed workers' priorities regarding a just transition, anticipated impacts of climate change and policies on job opportunities and income, and necessary guarantees to protect workers while maximizing their benefits from green economy opportunities. This session aimed to crystallize the key messages for inclusion in the position paper.
Participants concluded the meeting by agreeing to continue consultations with labor unions and established coordination mechanisms and a work plan for completing the federation's position paper.