In its 65th meeting, the FSC International Board of Directors approved a two-step approach to achieving an FSC system-wide solution for certificate holders to comply with fundamental workers’ rights (as expressed in the ILO Core Conventions and defined in the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work).

As a first step, a working group (WG) with balanced representation of economic, environmental, and social sub-chamber members has been established to reach a common understanding about the application of ILO Core Conventions principles within the FSC system. The intended outcome of this process is the delivery of a set of generic criteria and suggested indicators that are commonly applicable to all FSC-certified organizations.

Apolinar Tolentino, the social-North representative of the WG commented: “Once again, through a chamber-balanced mechanism, the FSC proved to be a problem-solving organization. Given the diverse background, solid credentials representing our respective constituents, and dynamic energy poured into the three-day workshop, we have collectively developed a working document on Criteria and Indicators for ILO Core Conventions that can be considered to apply to FSC-wide certification process.

“All members of the working group are confident that we can achieve the mandate tasked upon us,” he added.

On day one of the three-day meeting, the members focused on creating a shared understanding of the history and context of FSC requirements relating to the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the ILO Core Conventions. The ILO Core Conventions discussed included the abolition of child labour (Conventions 138 and 182), prohibition of forced labour (Conventions 29 and 105), and elimination of discrimination (Conventions 100 and 111).

By the end of day three, the WG had developed a set of draft criteria and suggested indicators on six of the eight ILO Core Conventions. The Core Conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining (87 and 96) will be discussed at the second WG meeting.

As a second step, the set of generic criteria and suggested indicators will be translated into auditable requirements and incorporated into the applicable normative documents across the FSC system. For this task, separate working groups will later be established in a follow-up process.

FSC members wanting to provide advice and feedback to the process are encouraged to contact their chamber representative directly.

Social Chamber
North: Apolinar Tolentino, Philippines, apolinar.tolentino@bwint.org
South: Jeanette Clarke, South Africa, forests@mweb.co.za

Economic Chamber
North: Paige Goff, USA, Paige.Goff@domtar.com
South: Kelen Bührer Pedroso, Brazil, kelen.pedroso@faber-castell.com.br

Environmental Chamber
North: Patrick Spencer, USA, pspencer@corkforest.org
South: Alfredo Unda, Chile, aunda4@gmail.com

Those who wish to join the consultative forum are invited to send their contact details (email address) to Dorothee Jung d.jung@fsc.org with copy to Paul Opanga p.opanga@fsc.org, the coordinator of this process.