ILO Standards in Certification

Brussels, February 18 Jan Voets ACV BI for BWI

What are the issues ?

Ensuring the respect of workers rights Putting ILO Core Labour standards into practice Forestry is among the most dangerous of professions globally Ensuring policies are put into practice

Why are unions interested in certification ?

To improve working and living conditions To create employment that is sustainable To support enforcement of ILO standards

What is the ILO ?

The oldest agency of the United Nations The only international body which is tripartite in its make-up and nature The only body which takes account of the views of governments, employers and trade unions Can provide an apeal mechanism where there are breaches of Conventions

ILO Core Labour Standards

To improve working and living conditions To create employment that is sustainable Creating Decent Work They need to be verified on the ground

What is Decent Work ?

DECENT WORK is the primary goal of the ILO, the United Nations agency devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Decent work links to the most important aspirations of people: a fair income, security at the workplace and social protection for themselves and their families, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men. It is ultimately about having a better life, individually and collectively, through a whole lifecycle, from maternity protection to active retirement.

ILO Declaration
The Declaration covers four fundamental principles and rights at work Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining Elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour Effective Abolition of child labour Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation Source: ILO www.ilo.org

These are set out in the core conventions of the ILO

Are there gaps ?

Currently, to achieve PEFC certification, is it enough that a government has ratified the ILO Core Conventions ? However, this needs to be verified on the ground to ensure that workers have these rights guaranteed in reality In certification audits, the standards must be seen to be upheld

The Health and Safety Issues

Forestry is probably the most dangerous profession globally The ILO has developed the best standard so far:

ILO Code of Practice

This code of practice was developed by the ILO in 1998 Drafted by tripartite representatives from governments, the industry and trade unions It remains the best basic document which constitutes an international standard