Franklin

PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY in the Ministry of Health, Aundre Franklin, is advocating the formal recognition of 'green-collar' workers in Jamaica and the creation of a green economy.

Making his contribution to the State of the Nation debate in the Senate Friday, Franklin said the training of thousands of unemployed Jamaican youths for 21st-century jobs formed the basis for his call to create jobs geared toward protecting the environment.

New workforce

"To formalise the entry of this new workforce, I also call for the creation of a Green Job Act," he said, adding that this legislation would guarantee the training of young people for environment-related jobs.

Franklin said the training of persons to take up positions in the environment sector could be funded by PetroCaribe as well as other government initiatives. He said the administration could provide tax incentives to companies that start green projects in inner-city communities.

On another matter, the parliamentary secretary told the Senate that the Ozone Act would be drafted before the end of this financial year.

Franklin said the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of the current fiscal year.