As envisioned by the Baltic Agenda 21, health and safety also falls within the scope of Danish sector-integrated environment activities in the Baltic region. The Ministry of Labour has launced a range of projects partly aimed at improving health and safety and partly at integrating environmental matters in traditional labour market policy tools such as employment and training programmes for unemployed.

Several resources have been spent on improving relations between labour market and environmental authorities and enhancing environmental aspects of employment and labour market policy activities. In addition, resources have been spent on improving training and education activities in the field of the environment in vocational adult education and joint education of inspectors in the field of the environment and health and safety.

Network of experts

The programme draws on a comprehensive network of Danish labour market experts from institutions and agencies under the Ministry of Labour. Cooperation also focuses on private consultancy firms in areas where the Ministry's expertise is insufficient. The programme coordinates the following cross-sectoral environment programmes:

• Coordinating activities on external and internal environments in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (1998-2000)

• Projects combining the environment, employment and adult vocational training in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (1999-2001)

• Coordination and integration of external environment, health and safety and vocational training in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad as well as follow-up activities in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (2000-2002).

Pilot projects demonstrate the environmental bias

Programme resources are insufficient to finance entire employment programmes in recipient countries. Through pilot projects, the Ministry has consequently been challenged to demonstrate how the environmental bias can be increased in activities already launched – both in the field of employment and job-creation and in labour market and vocational training.

Additional information

Information on the Ministry of Labour sector programme is available from:
Ministry of Labour
SISA
Holmens Kanal 20
DK-1060 Copenhagen K
Tel.: +45 33 92 59 00
www.am.dk and www.sisa.dk

Labour market policies grow greener in Lithuania

The environmental aspect must be strengthened in Lithuanian labour market courses and Lithuanian employment policy. This is the objective of a two-year project realised by the Danish Ministry of Labour together with the Lithuanian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The project was launched in 1999.

Increased awareness about the environment

Overall awareness of environmental matters in the Lithuanian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is to be improved through a range of different initiatives. In the field of employment policy, the project will primarily promote environmental considerations in evaluation and implementation of actual employment projects. In addition, a "best practice catalogue" will be set up containing employment projects which have integrated environmental aspects.

Upgrading teachers

In labour market courses, teaching qualifications will be updated for those in charge of training middle managers in environmental awareness and management. The upgrading will be performed in cooperation with a Lithuanian labour market training centre and Kaunas Technological University. Labour market courses in the food and building sectors will also undergo revision with a view to improving environmental, health and safety aspects.

Wide representation in consortium

The project is realised by a consortium holding selected units from the Danish labour market education system, the Employment Service and a private consultancy firm. The consultancy firm is primarily in charge of process and quality management while also performing defined assignments relating mainly to environment.

Partners

The close cooperation comprises recipient countries' ministries of labour, labour market authorities, employment services, adult vocational training systems, national working environment authorities and the ministries of the environment. Representatives of the local authorities in the recipient countries are also partners.

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Green activities strengthen health and safety