Trade unions engaging the Ministry of Green Economy
on Climate Change

On 4 July Zambian trade union affiliates of PSI met to prepare for an engagement with the Ministry of Green Economy. The PSI affiliates are: the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ); Health Workers Union of Zambia (HWUZ); National Union of Public Service Workers (NUPSW); University of Zambia and Allied Workers Union (UNZAAWU); Zambia National Union of Health and Allied workers (ZNUHAW); Zambia Revenue Authority Worker Union (ZRAWU), Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU).

The aim of the meeting on 4 July was to develop a clear set of policy positions focusing on climate change adaptations that the Public Service Unions could engage the Ministry of Green Economy around.

On 18 July, 2024 the Public Service Trade Unions visited the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and submitted the union policy position paper on Climate Change and Employment to enable them to participate in Climate Governance and Policy Planning at Ministry of Green Economy and Environment as stakeholders. 

Public Service Unions prioritized climate change issues on top of the union agenda because climate change posed greater risks to human health, food security, water supply, and sanitation which have already been widely identified.

The Public Service Unions believed that the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable, economy must be economically and socially just and fair for workers and their communities; that the fight for a just transition must support strong social protection programmes such as health care, income security, social services and education. 

The Public Service Unions called for participation in climate governance and related policy planning to enable influence:

• A just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent and quality jobs;

• A Just Transition towards Environmentally Sustainable Economy and Society for All;

• Implementation of low-carbon policies at all possible levels and stages;

• Introducing more environmentally friendly work processes;

• Formulation of sustainable Industrial Policies and Plans that promote healthy workplaces with workers' rights;

• A sustainable future energy mix that ensures a secure supply of energy at a stable, affordable cost; and

• A worker-focused labour market adjustment programmes, and policies that promote lifelong learning

The Minister alluded to the fact that the Trade Unions were one of the major stakeholders because they represented most of the workers in Zambia.  He mentioned that there were two policies which were about to be reviewed and would be glad to bring public sector trade unions on board to be part of the process.  The Minister advised that it was important for the workers to be involved in adaptative and mitigative measures of climate change starting from food security.  He called on all the workers to champion the deliberate move of tree planting at household level. 

The Minister was glad to receive the union position paper and promised to engage with his team and find a remarkable way of working with Public Sector Trade Unions. 

This activity is part of the project Strengthening public services and public finances for a just and equitable transition implemented by PSI in partnership with Union to Union and Swedish trade unions - Akademikerförbundet SSR, Kommunal, SEKO, ST, Vardforbundet and Vision.