The starting point is that climate change, technological advances, demographics and a new era of globalisation are likely to continue to transform the industry and its supply chains. Governments and employers must address these issues to advance decent and sustainable work. Macroeconomic and growth policies that promote full, productive and freely chosen employment are critical to support national development and to ensure a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all. 

In consultation with employers’ and workers’ organisations, governments should implement policies to encourage a self-reinforcing cycle of productivity-enhancing investment, stable and sustained economic growth, sustainable enterprises, and quality jobs, in line with international labour standards and the ILO Guidelines for just transition.

At the end of the meeting, the social partners agreed that social dialogue is particularly critical to ensure that employers and workers in the oil and gas sector are involved in the formulation of employment, education and training, and technology policies and action, seeking structural change at the global, sectoral and national level, green innovation and a just energy transition.

They also adopted Recommendations for future action by the ILO and its Members, considering their complementary but different responsibilities in promoting decent work in the oil and gas industry. According to their statement, governments, together with social partners, should engage in effective social dialogue, promote equality of opportunity and treatment for women, actively foster equal and inclusive employment policies in the industry and eliminate all forms of discrimination, as well as develop and strengthen policies and strategies on skills development. 

Key points are also ensuring decent working conditions, a safe and healthy working environment, and universal access to social protection for all oil and gas workers, regardless of the nature of their employment relationship or working arrangements. 

All these goals should be reached through collaboration at the national and regional levels and international cooperation among countries.