A virtual meeting of Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) affiliated forestry unions was held where concerns were raised regarding employment and safety of forestry workers in the post Covid-19 pandemic situation.
It was resolved to strengthen the organisation and press for a national legislation for the employment guarantee, social security and healthcare of forest workers. Vice chairman of BWI Asia Pacific and former Rajya Sabha MP Dr RC Khuntia participating in the discussion said the dignity of organisations like ILO and the forest certificating organisations like SFI, FSC and PEFC could be utilised to protect the interest of forest workers and also create a political lobby. Representatives of Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Netherland and South America participated.