Introduction

• Author: International Labour Organization
• Pages: 1-2

MELIF05-2005-01-0394-1-En.doc/v2

1

Introduction

The contribution of forestry to the economic development of many countries is

significant. Forestry can generate sustained benefits, notably from timber for many

downstream industries and from a variety of non-wood products. Both are traded globally.

Thus forestry can generate foreign exchange and many jobs. The forest industry has

introduced new technologies, management systems and silviculture practices in order to

remain competitive and sustainable, and it continues to develop them. Forest management

therefore plays an important role in the process of economic development and in bringing

prosperity to the many who are directly and indirectly involved.

Good forest management should generate considerable revenue and benefits for the

enterprises and workers concerned. While some forests are located in areas with good road

access built by the enterprises, most forest operations are in remote areas that are difficult

to reach. The majority of forest workers in these areas are locals. For them, the forest is the

main source of employment and income. Thus, in these areas there are generally strong

links between forest enterprises and workers. Forest enterprises generally provide the basic

needs of the community; some may go further by also providing social and cultural

facilities.

In the years since the adoption of Agenda 21, the global action plan for environment

and development by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

(Rio de Janeiro, 1992), the world has reached a consensus on the importance of sustainable

forest management. Virtually every country in the world has adopted some form of

sustainable forest management for both public and private forests. As part of the global

community, the ILO has been at the forefront in developing social standards for

sustainable forest management based on the clear relationship between sustainable

development and labour standards in the forestry sector.

In accordance with the decision taken by the Governing Body of the ILO at its

287th Session in June 2003, a Tripartite Meeting of Experts on Labour Inspection in

Forestry was convened in Geneva from 24 to 28 January 2005 to draw up and adopt

guidelines on labour inspection in forestry. The Meeting was composed of five experts

appointed following consultations with Governments, five appointed following

consultations with the Employers’ group and five appointed following consultations with

the Workers’ group of the Governing Body.

The guidelines address some of the main issues and general principles of labour

standards and their inspection in the forestry sector (from planting to logging). The

guidelines are aimed at three main users:

– labour inspectors/certifiers: state labour inspectors and sustainable forest certifiers

who are evaluating compliance with labour standards in forestry enterprises, as well

as others, such as internal auditors;

– forest managers: individuals and management teams responsible for running forest

enterprises and implementing labour standards in such enterprises, including

employers, senior managers, workers, contractors, self-employed people and forest

owners;

– training and educational organizations: organizations responsible for training both

forest management staff and inspectors.