Gisbert interview
Interview with Gisbert Schlemmer, Special Representative International Affairs for the Woodbranches in IG Metall, Germany and former president of the Woodworkers' Union, Germany GHK Certified Wood Update: How big a problem is the current lack of requirements to comply with the 7 core ILO (labor) conventions in the supply chain? Schlemmer: "Following the world summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the process has led to the sustained human awareness of these issues.
FSC is striving to put some of these great ideas into practice. One important aspect of sustained development from the view of a member of the social chamber is the fight against poverty.
Taking into consideration the processing chain, about 7.5 million workers are employed by the wood industry, which is experiencing tremendous growth in the developing countries, especially in Asia. The informal processing of wood products offers jobs to at least another 50 million people and their families (based on full-time employment calculations).
Estimates for paper production alone currently count 4.3 million officially pay-rolled workers worldwide. Jobs in sawmills are also accident-prone and dangerous. The problem is compounded by frequently miserable working conditions for contract workers, along with inadequate training, lack of health care, lack of job security and extremely low pay. Unfortunately, even the most cruel types of child labour are still rampant in the 21th century - at this time about 8.4 million children older than 7 years of age are affected by this problem.
The right to organize unions and to be active in unions is still not the norm in all parts of the world. Last year, 223 cases of murdered or disappeared union representatives were documented, 4,000 were jailed for their union activism, 1,000 were injured and more than 10,000 lost their jobs over union issues.
170 countries have accepted the ILO standards and have ratified relevant treaties. This would mean that the above-mentioned negative examples should not have occurred. Reality shows that action is urgently required.
The fact that 24,000 people are dying every day as a consequence of famine or malnutrition is another reality of life".
CWU: What diffence do you think the passing of your motion will make?
Schlemmer: "FSC is in a position to develop locally adaptable models and concepts for the application and optimization of the ILO standards worldwide.
Each certification that ascertains compliance with ILO Conventions in the future is a direct contribution to the alleviation of poverty and suffering. FSC aims at reinforcing the social aspects of certification. If compliance with the applicable ILO standards is ensured, the affected workers and their families will be in a position to make an acceptable living in compensation for their labour. In the processing of the wood in the trade chain until it reaches the end user (saw mills, wood processing, furniture production, etc.) the ILO standards are to be applied to these producers on a mandatory basis in the future also.
We were successful in Cape Town with a motion on inclusion of Labor in FSC. Paperwork has been done so far. What is needed now, is the implementation in practice. If this happens FSC shows again to be a front runner and a trend setter. This is good for FSC's image, it is better for the unions and the workers and at least it is in the very best interest of millions of families, their living conditions and their future".
CWU: How do you suggest the process of implementation of this motion?
"The motion on the inclusion of labor in FSC consists of two parts.
The first part concerns FM Certification. The motion is about the immediate incorporation of the ILO conventions into FM certification. It is important to show the world and all interested groups that we include the whole set of the core ILO norms into our system. Immediate changes to the FSC Principles & Criteria are urgently needed. In 4.3. now only 2 conventions are mentioned. We must include all 7 conventions there right now and not in 3 years' time.
The second part is about including the ILO conventions in CoC certification. The above said is essential here too. We need clear and simple rules. The world council of the international federation of Building and Woodworkers will discuss the outcome of Cape Town in November 2008. I think they will be happy about the results. But they also know that more work is needed to bring them out to all the companies and to every worker on the ground. The union movement will give FSC strong support to implement the motion soon.
My hope for the future is that the workers and their unions and FSC will work together closer than before, so that the outcomes for workers are positive and better than right now. People matter".
