OEA - CP- Resolución XIX VI 1 CIMT 22 GT1 GT2 9

INTER-AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT

MEETING OF WORKING GROUPS 1 AND 2 OEA/Ser.L/XIX.VI.1

OF THE TWENTY-SECOND INTER-AMERICAN CIMT-22/GT1-GT2/doc.9/26

CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF LABOR 7 May 2026

May 11 to 13, 2026 Original: Spanish Asunción, Paraguay OUTCOMES AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HEMISPHERIC WORKSHOP “Just Transition, green and blue jobs in the Americas: Contributions from the world of work to environmentally sustainable economies and societies” (Preliminary version)1 OUTCOMES AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HEMISPHERIC WORKSHOP “Just Transition, green and blue jobs in the Americas: Contributions from the world of work to environmentally sustainable economies and societies” (Preliminary version)

INDEX INTRODUCTION……………………………..…………………………………..……….……………………………….…..………2

1. MAIN IDEAS AND GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 1.1. General considerations …………………....……………………………………………..………………………...... 3 1.2. Aligning labor and environmental agendas for a sustainable future …………..………..……..... 5 1.3. Social Protection and Labor Inclusion in Green Transitions ………………………………..……….... 6 1.4. Training, reskilling and upskilling for green and blue jobs ………………………….…………………. 10

2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1. Recommendations on inter-institutional coordination and better integration of labor and environmental agendas………………………………………………………………………………………….….… 15 2.2. Recommendations on strengthening social protection, occupational health and safety, and equity and inclusion ………………………………………………………………………...………………..… 18 2.3. Recommendations on developing the skills needed to create and fully benefit from green and blue jobs ………………..…………..……………..…………..………….……………………...……………..... 19

and equity and inclusion ………………………………………………………………………...………………..… 18 2.3. Recommendations on developing the skills needed to create and fully benefit from green and blue jobs ………………..…………..……………..…………..………….……………………...……………..... 19 2.4. Recommendations on cooperation and for the RIAL/OAS …………………………………..……….. 212

INTRODUCTION

The Hemispheric Workshop “Just Transition, green and blue jobs in the Americas: Contributions from the world of work to environmentally sustainable economies and societies” was held on February 26 and 27, 2026, in a hybrid form in Nassau, The Bahamas, as part of the 2025-2027 Work Plan of the InterAmerican Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML) of the Organization of American States (OAS). Accordingly, the event responded to the mandates established by the Ministers of Labor in the Declaration and Plan of Action of Bogotá, adopted at the XXII IACML in 2024, addressing these priority topics.

The Workshop was an activity of the Inter -American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL), coorganized by the OAS, the Ministries of Labour and Public Service and of Economic Affairs of The Bahamas, and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) , with additional financial support from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) . The Workshop involved delegations from 28 Ministries of Labor from across the region, representatives of workers –grouped under the Trade Union Technical Advisory Council (COSATE) – and employers –grouped under the Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Matters (CEATAL)–, and specialists from the OAS, ECLAC, CAF, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), and the NewClimate Institute.

In line with the mandates of the Declaration and Plan of Action of Bogotá, the general objective of the Workshop was to enhance the knowledge and strengthen the capacities of the region’s Ministries of Labor

Business Trust (YABT), and the NewClimate Institute.

In line with the mandates of the Declaration and Plan of Action of Bogotá, the general objective of the Workshop was to enhance the knowledge and strengthen the capacities of the region’s Ministries of Labor and social actors to promote just transition processes that generate green and blue jobs, promote labor inclusion, protect labor rights, and contribute to environmental ly sustainable economies and societies .

The specific objectives were:

• To identify, exchange, and analyze initiatives and proposed solutions from Ministries of Labor to address and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on the world of work -including strategies for occupational safety and health, social protection, and labor inclusionas well as to promote the creation of green and blue jobs through training, reskilling, and upskilling efforts.

• To strengthen the linkages between the Ministries of Labor and the Ministries of Sustainable Development and the Environment, in order to facilitate interinstitutional coordination of public policies that comprehensively and coherently address the challeng es of the climate and environmental crisis, as a result of climate change, in the world of work.

• To develop policy recommendations that guide Ministries of Labor in designing and implementing public policies to promote just transition processes that generate green and blue jobs, promote labor inclusion, protect labor rights, and contribute to environmentally sustainable economies and societies.3

To achieve these objectives, the Workshop featured three thematic sessions: the first intersectoral session “Aligning labor and environmental agendas for a sustainable future”, a second session on “Social Protection and Labor Inclusion in Green Transitions ”, and a final session on “ Training, reskilling and upskilling for green and blue jobs ”. Each session included guiding questions to frame the discussions. Within the sessions, there were presentations of demonstrative government experiences from The Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana,

upskilling for green and blue jobs ”. Each session included guiding questions to frame the discussions. Within the sessions, there were presentations of demonstrative government experiences from The Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Paraguay, and St. Lucia; as well as presentations from CAF, ECLAC, IDB, ILO, OAS, YABT, and the NewClimate Institute; and from workers and employers, represented by COSATE and CEATAL. There were also broad dialogue spaces where Ministries and representatives of workers and employers shared their reflections and experiences.

On the second day of the event, a sub-group exercise was conducted, allowing participants to discuss in greater depth and collectively answer the question of what lessons learned and policy recommendations could be identified, based on the discussions held during the Workshop.

Three (3) sub-groups were organized, moderated by government delegates from Barbados, Ecuador, and St. Lucia. Delegations from the participating Ministries, along with representatives of workers and employers, actively participated in the subgroup discussions.

This document compiles the main ideas and recommendations that emerged from the Workshop, both from the thematic sessions and the sub-group exercises, with the aim of strengthening strategies and policies to enhance the response capacities of the Ministries of Labor in the region on just transition.

1. MAIN IDEAS AND GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Below is a consolidation of the main ideas that emerged from the speakers’ presentations in each session, from the interventions during the dialogue spaces where Ministries and social actors shared their national experiences, and from the subgroup discussi ons. A later section of this document consolidates the policy recommendations identified throughout the workshop.

1.1 General considerations

• The discussions took place in a context shaped by three major transitions affecting the world of work in the Americas : climate and energy, technological, and demographic. These transformations are not unfolding in isolation, but rather simultaneously and with reinforcing effects across labor markets.4

1.1 General considerations

• The discussions took place in a context shaped by three major transitions affecting the world of work in the Americas : climate and energy, technological, and demographic. These transformations are not unfolding in isolation, but rather simultaneously and with reinforcing effects across labor markets.4 - Climate change is already reshaping the world of work in the Americas , not as a distant or hypothetical risk, but as an immediate reality affecting enterprises, workers, and labor markets.

ILO estimates show that, although Latin America and the Caribbean contribute slightly more than 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the region remains one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events, ecosystem degradation, and rising temperatures that directly affect productivity, livelihoods, and occupational safety.

• The Americas combine extraordinary natural wealth with high vulnerability to climate impacts, including extreme weather events, water stress, coastal erosion, and ecosystem degradation.

These environmental pressures are already affecting livelihoods and productive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, extractive industries, and urban services.

• The relationship between environmental sustainability and labor markets is becoming increasingly evident. Global estimates indicate that more than 1.2 billion jobs depend directly on a healthy environment, demonstrating the extent to which environmental degradation can affect employment stability, economic activity, and workers’ well-being. As climate pressures intensify, labor markets are expected to experience both disruption and transformation across sectors.

• Climate action also presents significant opportunities for job creation and economic transformation. Estimates indicate that the transition toward greener economies could generate approximately 15 million new jobs across the region, significantly exceeding the potential loss of around 7.5 million jobs associated with structural changes in carbon-intensive sectors.

• The concept of just transition has emerged as a key framework for aligning climate action with social and labor objectives. As defined by the ILO, just transition aims to promote environmentally sustainable economies in a fair and inclusive manner by maximizing the social and economic opportunities generated by environmental action while minimizing and managing the risks and

• The concept of just transition has emerged as a key framework for aligning climate action with social and labor objectives. As defined by the ILO, just transition aims to promote environmentally sustainable economies in a fair and inclusive manner by maximizing the social and economic opportunities generated by environmental action while minimizing and managing the risks and challenges for workers, enterprises, and communities. This approach recognizes that climate policies must address both environmental sustainability and social justice simultaneously.

• Just transition encompasses all productive sectors and territories, including both rural and urban economies, and requires policies that reflect the actual economic structures of countries.

Rather than applying a uniform model, the framework must be translated into concrete policy measures adapted to national labor markets, productive systems, and institutional capacities.

• The integration of the social dimension into climate policy has become increasingly central. The concept of just transition initially emerged from environmental debates but has progressively evolved into a core issue of labor and social policy. Decent work is therefore recognized as a prerequisite for achieving a just transition, as environmental transformations must be accompanied by policies that guarantee labor rights, safe working conditions, and income security.5

• Structural characteristics of labor markets in Latin America and the Caribbean shape the conditions under which a just transition can take place. Among them:

o High levels of labor informality , which remain a defining feature of many economies. Informality is not a marginal phenomenon but a structural characteristic that influences the reach and effectiveness of public policy.

o Inequality and exclusion also characterize the region’s labor markets , with certain populations –including women, youth, migrants, Indigenous peoples, Afro -descendants, and persons with disabilities – facing higher levels of unemployment and informality, persistent wage gaps, limited access to quality jobs, and structural ba rriers to skills development, labor market integration, and social protection.

o Micro, small, and medium -sized enterprises represent approximately 99% of all enterprises in the region and generate around 60% of formal employment, according to IDB estimates.

development, labor market integration, and social protection.

o Micro, small, and medium -sized enterprises represent approximately 99% of all enterprises in the region and generate around 60% of formal employment, according to IDB estimates.

1.2 Aligning labor and environmental agendas for a sustainable future

• The discussion highlighted that aligning labor and environmental agendas is essential. Climate change and environmental transitions are redefining labor markets, production systems, and social protection frameworks, while employment strategies and skills development systems, among others, can either advance or constrain climate policies and the achievement of sustainability goals.

• In this context, CEPAL emphasized that labor markets in Latin America and the Caribbean already face significant structural challenges –including high levels of informality, low incomes, and limited access to social protection – which increase vulnerability to climate-related shocks. These preexisting conditions mean that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a major risk multiplier for inequality and labor precarity.

• Ensuring alignment between labor and environmental agendas therefore requires adequate governance frameworks and strong inter -institutional coordination. This includes establishing clear mechanisms for collaboration between labor and sustainable development authorities, as well as promoting coherence across policies related to employment, skills development, and social protection.

• Within the Americas, ministerial processes under the Organization of American States have progressively incorporated this perspective. Both Ministers of Labor and Ministers responsible for6

Sustainable Development have recognized the need to strengthen intersectoral collaboration and committed to advancing work in this area.

• The discussion also underscored that environmental governance in the region is inherently multisectoral and multi-level, requiring coordination across institutions responsible for infrastructure, territorial planning, productive development, and environmental regulation. Hemispheric dialogue platforms have played a key role in enabling countries to exchange regulatory approaches, institutional arrangements, and financing strategies.

• At the same time, the environmental transition represents both a challenge and an opportunity for economic modernization. Emerging sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture,

dialogue platforms have played a key role in enabling countries to exchange regulatory approaches, institutional arrangements, and financing strategies.

• At the same time, the environmental transition represents both a challenge and an opportunity for economic modernization. Emerging sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, ecosystem restoration, circular economy activities, and blue economy initiatives offer significant potential for job creation and productive diversification.

• However, it was emphasized that these opportunities will only translate into decent work if supported by coherent policy frameworks, including clear regulatory environments, investment incentives, workforce development strategies, and mechanisms for social inclusion.

• Participants highlighted that managing the transition requires deliberate governance mechanisms, including social dialogue, forward -looking skills policies, and updated labor regulations that respond to climate-related risks and emerging economic opportunities.

• It was underscored that the objective is not to merge labor and environmental agendas, but to synchronize them: climate strategies should incorporate employment dimensions, and labor policies should integrate environmental sustainability goals.

• In this regard, hemispheric cooperation platforms such as the Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL) continue to play a key role in promoting this integrated approach through dialogue, peer learning, and technical cooperation among countries working to advance just transition strategies.

1.3 Social Protection and Labor Inclusion in Green Transitions

• Social protection systems play a central role in addressing the challenges related to the impact of climate change in the labor market and enabling inclusive transitions. It reduces vulnerability and promotes human dignity by guaranteeing access to essential rights such as health care, income security, maternity protection, disability benefits, unemployment protection, and old-age security throughout the life cycle.7 - In recent years, progress has been observed in expanding social protection coverage in the region. According to ILO, between 2015 and 2023, coverage increased significantly, and more than 60% of the population in Latin America now benefits from at least one social protection measure.

• However, coverage remains uneven across age groups and population segments, leaving

region. According to ILO, between 2015 and 2023, coverage increased significantly, and more than 60% of the population in Latin America now benefits from at least one social protection measure.

• However, coverage remains uneven across age groups and population segments, leaving important gaps in protection. Even when work remains the primary pathway for social integration, poverty reduction, and economic autonomy, while also contributing to social cohesion; labor markets alone cannot guarantee inclusion . When employment is characterized by informality or precarious conditions, it may reproduce or even deepen existing inequalities rather than reducing them.

• Occupational safety and health (OSH) is a fundamental pillar for ensuring that labor transitions, including those linked to green and blue economies, are safe, inclusive, and resilient. Integrating climate-related risks –such as heat stress, exposure to chemicals, extreme weather events – into workplace prevention and management systems is critical for protecting workers in high -risk sectors.

• Effective OSH policies also require sector -specific protocols, training of supervisors, and regular inspection mechanisms, particularly in contexts of high informality. Strengthening OSH contributes not only to worker well -being but also to maintaining productivity, reducing occupational hazards, and supporting equitable access to emerging labor opportunities in sustainable sectors.

• For these reasons, labor inclusion must advance in coordination with social protection systems.

Social protection and labor markets maintain a bidirectional relationship: robust social protection systems support labor market participation and resilience, while sustainable labor inclusion strengthens the financing and legitimacy of social protection systems.

• Ensuring inclusion is particularly critical in the context of green and blue transitions . Without targeted policies, particular groups –including women, youth, indigenous peoples, and workers in informal or rural economies– risk being excluded from emerging opportunities in sectors such as construction, renewable energy, and sustainable transport.

• Advancing toward more inclusive societies requires states capable of integrating employment policy, social protection systems, and productive development strategies under a common vision that guarantees dignified labor trajectories and economic security throughout the life cycle.

Challenges

construction, renewable energy, and sustainable transport.

• Advancing toward more inclusive societies requires states capable of integrating employment policy, social protection systems, and productive development strategies under a common vision that guarantees dignified labor trajectories and economic security throughout the life cycle.

Challenges

• As mentioned, high levels of labor informality remain one of the most significant structural challenges for implementing effective just transition policies in the region . When a large share8 of the workforce operates outside formal labor arrangements, access to occupational safety and health protections and social protection systems is significantly reduced, limiting the capacity of governments to protect workers from climate-related risks.

• Significant data gaps remain regarding the relationship between climate change and labor markets. Reliable information on how climate change affects employment, productivity, and workers’ well-being is still limited, which constrains the ability of governments to design evidencebased policies. Without improved data systems and research, it is difficu lt to anticipate labor market disruptions and develop effective policy responses.

• Climate change is expected to increase occupational risks and health challenges in the workplace. Rising temperatures, for example, significantly increase the incidence of heat stress, which affects productivity, working conditions, and workers’ health. ILO global estimates suggest that approximately 80 million jobs could be lost due to heat stress b y 2030, including around 2 million jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Climate transitions also risk reinforcing or exacerbating existing inequalities if they are not designed with an inclusive perspective. Unequal exposure to climate impacts and uneven access to new economic opportunities may deepen existing disparities between regions, sectors, and population groups.

• Gender inequalities represent a significant structural challenge in the context of green transitions. According to CAF, men represent 73% of workers in green occupations in Latin America, highlighting a persistent gender imbalance. Without targeted interventions, these disparities may limit women’s access to emerging green employment opportunities.

• Climate change may also intensify broader socioeconomic challenges, including increases in poverty levels and the rise of climate -related migration. These dynamics can place additional

America, highlighting a persistent gender imbalance. Without targeted interventions, these disparities may limit women’s access to emerging green employment opportunities.

• Climate change may also intensify broader socioeconomic challenges, including increases in poverty levels and the rise of climate -related migration. These dynamics can place additional pressure on labor markets, social protection systems, and public institutions.

Opportunities and lessons learned

• Technology is emerging as an important tool to protect workers and support climate adaptation in the workplace. For example, Brazil has developed the IBUTG Monitor, a digital tool that uses georeferenced meteorological data to measure heat stress conditions in real time. By combining temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed, this system provides employ ers and workers with objective information on thermal overload and helps establish scientifically grounded thresholds for work-rest cycles.

• Integrating climate considerations into occupational safety and health systems has become a key policy priority. Incorporating climate -related risks into prevention strategies allows9 institutions to anticipate hazards such as heat stress, extreme weather events, and environmental exposure that directly affect workers’ health and productivity.

• Adaptive social protection mechanisms have proven particularly relevant for responding to climate shocks that disrupt employment and income. Temporary income support can be activated when workers lose their livelihoods due to climate -related events, helping households maintain economic stability while transitioning toward new employment opportunities. Examples include:

o Barbados is adapting its social protection systems to address climate-related risks, with a focus on protecting vulnerable workers and strengthening resilience in the face of labor market disruptions.

o Costa Rica has implemented training subsidies and scholarships for vulnerable populations entering green and blue sectors, while ensuring continued access to health and social security during periods of labor transition.

• Employment services also play an important role in facilitating labor reintegration following economic disruptions. Effective intermediation mechanisms can connect displaced workers with new employment opportunities and support the reallocation of labor toward expanding sectors.

• Social protection systems play a strategic role in enabling inclusive transitions by strengthening resilience and preventing vulnerable populations from falling into poverty during periods of

economic disruptions. Effective intermediation mechanisms can connect displaced workers with new employment opportunities and support the reallocation of labor toward expanding sectors.

• Social protection systems play a strategic role in enabling inclusive transitions by strengthening resilience and preventing vulnerable populations from falling into poverty during periods of structural change. Adequate income protection, health coverage, and unemployment insurance are critical to supporting workers throughout labor market transitions.

• The integration of decent work principles into national climate strategies represents an important step toward aligning environmental policies with social and labor objectives.

Embedding labor considerations within national climate planning ensures that environmental transitions are accompanied by measures that protect workers’ rights and promote inclusive development.

• Strengthening knowledge generation and data systems remains a key priority for policy development. Research and evidence-based analysis provide the foundation for designing labor policies that respond effectively to climate-related challenges and opportunities.

• Broad collaboration across public institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations is essential for advancing just transition strategies. Partnerships between governments, employers, workers’ organizations, and research institutions strengthen policy coherence and expand the capacity to implement large-scale transformations.10 - Communication and public awareness strategies are also critical to ensure that societies understand the objectives and implications of just transition policies. Engaging the public helps build support for structural reforms and ensures that climate policies are accompanied by social legitimacy.

• Social dialogue is recognized as a central mechanism for ensuring that just transition policies are inclusive and sustainable. Effective dialogue between governments, employers, and workers helps build consensus around reforms, facilitates the integration of labor protections into climate strategies, and strengthens the legitimacy of policy measures.

• Collective bargaining can also serve as a powerful instrument for implementing just transition measures at the workplace level. In some contexts, efforts are being made to incorporate climaterelated provisions into collective agreements, including commitments related to worker reskilling, occupational safety, and employment transitions.

1.4 Training, reskilling and upskilling for green and blue jobs

• The transition toward green and blue economies is transforming labor markets across the

related provisions into collective agreements, including commitments related to worker reskilling, occupational safety, and employment transitions.

1.4 Training, reskilling and upskilling for green and blue jobs

• The transition toward green and blue economies is transforming labor markets across the Americas, generating new demand for technical skills, updated occupational profiles, and training systems capable of responding to evolving environmental and economic priorities.

• Green jobs are often associated with higher levels of education and specialized technical competencies. According to IDB, evidence indicates that demand for green skills can generate a wage premium of approximately 20% in some occupations, reflecting the increasing value of technical expertise related to environmental sustainability and energy transition.

• Building on CAF’s approach, green jobs can be understood as those occupations whose demand is generated or transformed by the energy transition . This includes (i) new occupations that emerge as a result of the transition (such as photovoltaic panel installers), (ii) existing jobs that require significant adaptation of skills and tasks (such as civil engineers), and (iii) occupations that experience increased demand due to changes in energy production and consumption patterns

(such as electricians). Under this definition, green jobs are not limited to specific sectors, but are identified based on how the transition reshapes the content and demand of work.

• Skills shortages can hinder the achievement of climate and environmental targets. As highlighted by the NewClimate Institute, when the supply of skilled workers does not keep pace with growing demand, delays in the deployment of renewable energy and other green infrastructure are likely to eme