Greening agricultural jobs requires more training that doesn’t exist now

Particular importance is to be assigned to social policy measures, investments in education and the promotion of green jobs. Generally speaking, a green job contributes to preserve or restore the quality of the environment within the economic sectors, by cutting the consumption of energy and raw materials and by reducing greenhouse emissions. In so doing, the companies and the population involved become more environmentally sustainable, as they limit the risk of environmental pollution and desertification (Bowen, 2012, pp. 3 ff.). It is difficult to provide a clear definition for the term “green job” because specific green products or services are not necessarily derived from green production processes (UNEP, ILO, IOE, ITUC 2008, p. 3 and pp. 35-37; ILO, 2012, p. 7). Improving green jobs is important not only from the quantitative point of view – sustainable agriculture is projected to create additional employment (over 200 million full time jobs in 2050) – but also from the qualitative one, because it means bettering the work quality, improving decent work. We can define decent work as employment «under conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity, in which rights are protected and adequate remuneration and social coverage is provided» (UNEP, ILO, IOE, ITUC, 2008, pp. 278 ff.). Consequently, it can help rural populations to benefit from a long-term income. Employment growth would include more labor intensive green farming practices operations, management and preservation of ecosystems, research and development and training of rural populations in the use of green agriculture technologies (UNEP, ILO, IOE, ITUC, 2008; World Bank, 2008).

Promoting green jobs implies taking action into several dimensions. The first one is taking into account that working in agriculture is extremely risky. Therefore, measures are needed to ensure safety and security in the workplace. Moreover, agriculture is a labour intensive sector and specific measures shall be put in place, including the implementation of social security actions (like insurance coverage for natural disasters), ones that prevent rural families/communities from falling into poverty.

A second relevant dimension that may improve the working conditions in this sector is the access to education and training, to which agricultural workers have usually limited access to. This also means improving minimum wages (ILO, 2015; Cunningham, 2007; Herr, Kazandziska, 2011). Legislation should also support adequate training and educational opportunities in order to provide green jobs skills, with particular emphasis on the promotion of gender equality. It is also essential to promote the participation in decision and policy-making processes.