What is Sustainable Labor?
When we hear the word sustainability, we usually think of environmental issues. Climate crisis, carbon emissions, plastic pollution, energy efficiency... What about labor? Is it part of sustainability too?
Actually, we cannot leave labor out if we are imagining a future in harmony with nature. Because what we call production emerges from the relationship between human labor and nature. The more fair, transparent, and balanced this relationship is, the more sustainable a structure can be established for both workers and the planet.
A system which focuses only on protecting nature while ignoring the rights of workers is an incomplete system. And the opposite is also true: A system which tries to improve the conditions for workers while ignoring nature is not sustainable in the long run as well. Therefore, the notion of “sustainable labor” comes to the fore as one of the most important issues today.
In this blog post, we will analyze what sustainable labor means, the rise of green jobs, the need for fair transformation, the role of care work, and the solutions in detail. Enjoy reading.
Sustainable labor approaches labor by looking out for workers of today and of the future. It cares not only for economic growth, but also social justice and ecological balance.
This notion is based on three fundamental dimensions:
- Economic sustainability: People working in secure and long-term jobs with fair wages
- Social sustainability: Decent working conditions, ensuring health and safety, and equitable practices
- Environmental sustainability: Production using environmentally friendly methods, reduction of carbon footprint, and protection of ecosystems
In other words, sustainable labor is not only an environmental policy, but also an issue of labor right and of right to life. This approach cares about not only the productivity of the workers, but also their health, mood, and living environment.
Green jobs refer to business areas which protect the environment while also being economically and socially sustainable. These jobs support eco-friendly production processes and provide decent working conditions.
Technicians working in the renewable energy sector, operators working at recycling facilities or landscaping architects working in nature-based city projects... All of these are included in the category of “green job.” But they are not restricted to technical areas.
Furthermore, green jobs do not consist of only environment-oriented occupations. Green transformation of the current jobs also enters into this scope. For example, a civil engineer who develops a project using eco-friendly materials or an agriculture worker who produces using agroecological methods are part of this transformation as well.
Please check out our blog post titled “Green Economy and New Generation Business Opportunities for further details.
Reducing the use of fossil fuels is critical to achieve climate goals. This transformation, however, has a direct impact on the jobs of millions of people. Mine workers, employees of thermal power plants, heavy industry laborers... So how will these people find themselves a place in the new order?
The notion of fair transformation comes into play exactly at this point. The purpose is not only to protect the environment but also to ensure that no one is left behind in this transformation process. Climate policies can lead to significant social breakdowns when they are not considered together with social justice. Fair transformation is not limited to creating new business areas. It also involves education, re-skilling, social insurance, and labor rights. People need not only to keep their current jobs, but also to feel secure in a changing world so that they can take steps toward a new future.
In short, the transformation needs to be not only technological, but also humane. Otherwise, this process can be destructive both for the workers and the society.
Please check out our blog post titled What Is Environmental Justice? from here.
Sustainability is not an issue that is restricted to energy, transportation, or production. It should also involve invisible labor forms that keep the society standing. Care work is the first and foremost among these. Childcare, elderly care, housework, patient care... These tasks are mostly undertaken by women, unpaid and invisibly. Whereas, without this labor, society would come to a standstill. If we want to build a sustainable future, the value of this labor should be acknowledged, and a fairer distribution of this labor should be ensured. Policies that promote gender equality are essential for true sustainability. True ‘fair transformation’ is not possible without making women’s labor visible and distributing care work in an equitable manner.
Sustainable labor cannot be achieved solely by the initiative of an institution or individuals. It requires a multi-player and multi-dimensional transformation. So where should we start?
1. On a political level:
Legal regulations should consider labor rights together with climate policies. Budgets should be allocated for fair transformation, education programs should be created, labor security mechanisms should be developed. Other policies that promote women’s employment and care infrastructures are also necessary.
2. On an institutional level:
Companies should consider improving their workers’ conditions as part of sustainability. Supply chains should be transparent; rights of workers should be protected. Re-skilling programs should be supported in order to prevent job losses during digitalization processes.
3. On individual and social levels:
We should care about production modes as much as we care about our consumption habits and question the conditions of labor. Thinking about the labor behind the clothes we wear or products we use is part of being conscious citizens. Also, supporting unions, cooperatives, and solidarity networks is also part of this process.
AI creates a fundamental transformation in work life. Automation affects not only blue-collar jobs, but also white-collar positions such as data analysis, customer services, even content creation. On the one hand, work productivity is increasing, with AI taking over routine tasks. This can open up more creative, meaningful areas for people. However, job insecurity, skill inadequacy and the feeling of uncertainty increase for many people.
Therefore, in the age of AI, sustainable labor means not only developing innovative technologies, but also reducing the inequalities that these technologies will create. Digital inclusiveness, lifelong learning, and re-skilling policies are critical in this process.
Moreover, environmental impacts of AI should also be taken into account. Training big language models leads to considerable amounts of energy consumption. These technologies need to be not only ethically, but also environmentally sustainable.
Green transformation, i.e., reduction of carbon emissions, transformation of energy systems, establishment of more sustainable infrastructures... All of this is necessary for urgent climate goals. This transformation, however, is also a breaking point for labor market. Some sectors are shrinking while new jobs are emerging in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy, etc. However, if this transformation process is unplanned, this can cause serious social costs.
This is exactly why green transformation should be not only a technical transformation, but a social one as well. The concerns of current workers should be considered as new business areas are created. Fair transformation policies should consider climate goals together with labor rights.
A sustainable future is related not only to nature, but also to people. Production cannot be achieved without labor; society cannot survive without care. Therefore, the concept of sustainability should not be restricted to energy efficiency or carbon reduction, instead it should be considered together with human dignity. This is why sustainable labor is a collective issue rather than an individual one. Please remember: Achieving climate justice would not be possible without social justice.