THE ROLE OF SOCIAL PARTNERS IN THE PROCESS OF “GREENING” EMPLOYMENT

Apply

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL PARTNERS IN THE PROCESS OF “GREENING” EMPLOYMENT  

Journal Title: Role of Higher Education Institutions in Society: Challenges, Tendencies and Perspectives - Year 2013, Vol 1, Issue 2

Abstract

The article deals with the questions and issues rising regarding the currently undergoing paradigm change within the energy sector. Due to the clearly sensible effects of the climate change it is of undisputed importance to stop the destruction of our environment. International bodies such as the International Labour Organisation and the European Union are also dealing with this issue and as a result constantly offer funding and support for research purposes on countering climate change, or at least slowing it down. On European Community level, the pace of taking steps has especially accelerated since the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon, which deals with the question of energy policies in detail and moves the issue of environmental protection up on the agenda. Exact and detailed goals were also set for the member states of the European Union after the Commission issued the Climate and Energy Package on which the next European Strategy Programme, named by the year of the deadline (2020) is based. The member states were required to develop National (Renewable Energy) Action Plans (NARPS) in order to ensure their active participation on national level as well. The article presents the issues, doubts and hardships the member states have to face regarding the question of promoting the use of renewable energy sources (as a possible and supported way of countering climate change) through a research project conducted in the exact field, named Women in the Renewable Energy Sector (or WiRES for short.) The Project was aimed to determine and examine the exact role of social partners and the instrument of social dialogue in the process. The research project lasted for a year and was carried out by three EU member states (namely Italy, Bulgaria and Hungary) and with the support of numerous partners. A wide range of methodology was used during the research, from which the direct, personal interviews proved to be the most effective. As the name of the project indicates, the research put a special emphasis on the situation of women but in the case of Hungary for example no special distinctive features have been revealed in this regard therefore the findings are also listed in general and not gender-specifically. The basic assumption of the research was that the main role of the social partners will be to ease the process of transition towards the new methods and especially easing the tension of employees in this regard, which was (alas) only partially proven be the outcomes.

Authors and Affiliations

Balázs ROSSU

Keywords

EP ID EP104443
DOI -
Views 130
Downloads 0