FSP KAHUTINDO, BWI’s Indonesian affiliate, on 28 April, marked a historic milestone by co-organising the national launch of the translated and adapted ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Forestry Work. Held in Jakarta to coincide with International Workers’ Memorial Day, the launch event positioned Indonesia as the first country in the world to formally translate and integrate the revised Code into its national framework.

The launch was co-convened with the Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI), the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Forestry, and the ILO Office for Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Over 500 participants (300 online) attended the tripartite gathering, which reaffirmed the shared responsibility of governments, employers, and workers to improve safety standards in one of the country’s most hazardous sectors.

KAHUTINDO General Secretary Rulita Wijayaningdyah reminded the forum of the high risks forestry workers face daily and the human cost of neglecting OSH. Recalling the tragic Mahakam River accident in East Kalimantan in 2013, she stated: “Occupational safety and health is not a privilege, but it is a right. In the forestry sector, where workers often earn little and lack adequate social protection, this right must be non-negotiable. Safe forests must mean safe jobs.” She emphasised that the launch must not remain symbolic, but must catalyse reforms, social dialogue, and enforcement to ensure the Code leads to tangible improvements at the workplace level.

A high-level panel discussion followed, where tripartite representatives outlined their respective commitments and the concrete next steps for implementation. The Ministry of Manpower highlighted that the revised Code would serve as a reference for improving Indonesia’s OSH legal framework. The Ministry of Forestry acknowledged persistent challenges in regulating geographically remote concessions and pledged to strengthen provincial-level implementation. Meanwhile, APHI called for a cultural shift, reframing OSH not as a financial burden but as a long-term investment in workforce resilience and productivity.

The panel also addressed current gaps in compliance with certification standards and legal instruments such as the Timber Legality Assurance System (SVLK). Issues such as heat stress, psychosocial risks, and weak contractor accountability were raised as areas needing urgent attention. ILO Jakarta offered insights into how emerging technologies and digital tools can help prevent hazards, while cautioning against the misuse of automation that could displace labour and erode workers’ rights.

Participants also voiced strong concerns about fragmented monitoring, weak labour inspection reach, and the lack of effective enforcement, particularly in concessions operated by subcontractors. Trade unions called for the reactivation of joint OSH committees, increased union representation in safety structures, and stronger mechanisms for workplace complaints and inspections.

BWI and FSP KAHUTINDO, reaffirmed its commitment to ensure the Code is fully disseminated and applied at all levels of the forestry value chain, through organising, bargaining, and advocacy. We will continue to push for OSH to be treated not as a formality, but as the cornerstone of decent work in forestry.