(Photo: <a href="https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/nature">Nature Stock photos by Vecteezy</a>)

The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) welcomed the official launch of the revised ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Forestry Work, a pivotal moment towards reinforcing the right of all forestry workers to a safe and healthy working environment. The launch webinar, officiated by Frank Hagemann, Director of the ILO Sectoral Policies Department (SECTOR), featured a high-level tripartite panel with speakers representing workers, employers, and the industry. Notable participants included Rulita Wijayaningdyah (KAHUTINDO, Indonesia), Budd Phillips (WorkSafe BC, Canada), and Claudia Peirano (Argentina Forestry Association, AFoA). 

Adopted during the ILO Meeting of Experts in Geneva (13–17 May 2024), the revised Code is the first ILO sectoral code to be issued following the formal recognition of a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work. Replacing the original 1998 version, the updated Code responds to changing conditions in the forestry sector and offers strengthened provisions on employer and contractor responsibilities, the reaffirmation of safe and healthy workplaces as a fundamental workers' right, the inclusion of the entire supply chain in the Code's coverage, the establishment of Joint Trade Union and Management OSH Committees with resources from employers, and the recognition of decent work deficits as causes of psychosocial risks. 

Representing workers’ voices on the panel, Rulita Wijayaningdyah, the General Secretary of KAHUTINDO, a BWI affiliate, provided a compelling analysis of the OSH challenges in forestry, especially in developing countries where regulatory frameworks are weak, and enforcement is often lacking. She noted the widespread misunderstanding of OSH responsibilities and the absence of structured, competence-based training systems. Wijayaningdyah commended the revised Code for its clarity, particularly Section 6 on Competence, Information, Instruction and Training, and called for robust worker participation in OSH structures and decision-making. Drawing from national-level experience, she also shared examples of trade union engagement in social dialogue and forest certification frameworks to advance safety and health protections for forestry workers. 

The Code’s approved by the ILO Governing Body during its 352nd Session in November 2024 marks a significant advancement in the promotion of occupational health and safety within the forestry sector. BWI calls on all its affiliates engaged in forestry to actively utilise the Code as a tool for advocacy, organising, and collective bargaining. It should inform the development of national OSH policies, strengthen audit and certification processes, and underpin training and awareness programmes for workers. 

BWI reaffirms its commitment to supporting affiliates in translating this Code of Practice into tangible improvements with the implementation of aligned national laws, regulations, and workplace agreements, to make sure its effectiveness. A safe and healthy working environment is not a privilege but a right. 

For more information, please reach out to BWIs Global Director for OSH Linnea Wikström, and Download the ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Forestry Work at here