The Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI), its Swedish affiliate GS, and IKEA last April carried out a joint visit to an IKEA supplier in northern Vietnam as part of their ongoing collaboration. Building on a similar initiative in southern Brazil, the visit included tours of a timber harvesting area, a sawmill, and a wood and furniture manufacturing facility.

The visit offered valuable insights into operations across the supply chain and enabled direct engagement with workers and management. It also provided a practical perspective on how IKEA’s IWAY code of conduct is implemented. Discussions covered supplier development, operational practices, and labour-related topics.

BWI, IKEA, and the local supplier also held constructive exchanges on occupational safety and health (OSH), including a workshop on risk-based approaches. These sessions supported the identification of opportunities to further strengthen worker safety. In addition, the delegation explored ways to enhance Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) processes, with a focus on certification and auditing.

Overall, the visit strengthened understanding of industry standards and highlighted the value of continued dialogue among suppliers, trade unions, and workers. It also created space for sharing perspectives and identifying areas for future collaboration.

Participants described the visit as informative and productive, marking another positive step in the ongoing engagement between BWI and IKEA.