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Forestry Contractors Expect Improved Working Conditions Due to New National Legislation

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According to the manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors A.G., the commission of these types of crimes has dangerously increased informality levels in Chile.

A spokesperson for forestry service providers in Chile stated that the law classifying timber theft as a felony, rather than a misdemeanor, will help combat terrorist organizations funded by this illegal activity and reduce sector informality, improving conditions for those working within the national legal framework.

The manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors, René Muñoz Clock, told La Tribuna newspaper that "classifying timber theft as a felony, whereas before it was considered a misdemeanor, marks significant progress compared to what we had." The industry leader also praised the law's determination, which "amends the Penal Code, establishing different penalties. By classifying it as a felony, penalties increase, and control is facilitated, as it mandates the generation of electronic invoices and documentation." "Similar to drug laws, it allows investigative techniques such as protected witnesses, wiretapping, or infiltrating these gangs—tools we believe enhance the law and improve crime prosecution," listed the Acoforag A.G. spokesperson.

LAW WILL TARGET TERRORISM AND INCREASE SOCIAL SECURITY

Regarding the regulation's impact, the manager of the forestry service providers group anticipated that "members of terrorist organizations have admitted that timber theft funds terrorist and criminal activities, so this law’s enactment will impose limits, removing offenders from circulation by imposing harsher sentences." "The confiscation of equipment, leaving them unable to produce, reduces their operational capacity, thereby cutting funding for these armed terrorist groups that attack us and cause so much harm to the sector," added the representative of the associated forestry contractors. On the regulation's effect on the forestry service market, René Muñoz Clock believes this will "begin normalizing the sector and restoring its previous functioning."

"This means conditions and competition no longer allow unfair practices, ensuring products and services are bought and paid for at fair prices. It also formalizes the labor market," emphasized the manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors. Muñoz Clock explained that workers engaged in illegal practices "lack contracts, social security, or healthcare, creating problems for their contributions and future pensions while fostering unfair competition against those with properly contracted workers." "It’s similar to illegal trade, but in this case, it happens in the forest," compared Acoforag’s manager. René Muñoz Clock stated that contractors operating within Chile’s legal framework now experience "a shift in the forestry environment. Today, we work under legal requirements, meeting all worker-related obligations, contracts, and invoicing."

LAW WILL REDUCE INFORMALITY AND PROMOTE FAIR COMPETITION

The leader of the Association of Forestry Contractors stressed their goal of extending legal operations "to other companies currently operating illegally, harming the forestry sector. We aim to raise standards, while some seek to lower them." "Some want to spread poverty, crime, and inequality, but we want contractors and businesses to meet standards that restore us to where we were before," criticized Muñoz Clock. The forestry workers' leader noted that sector development "has regressed, reaching dangerously high informality levels for the country, with all its consequences." He also addressed aspects the law could improve given current sector conditions. "What we’d like, acknowledging that nothing is perfect, is for this regulation to be enforced, as we’ve seen similar crimes judged differently by various courts," explained Acoforag A.G.’s manager. The industry leader cited cases "in Curanilahue and Victoria, where preventive detention was applied in Victoria for timber theft but not in Curanilahue. We believe if a law is made, it must be enforced." "State institutions—Carabineros, PDI, CONAF, the Internal Revenue Service, the Prosecutor's Office, and the Judiciary—must ensure this works. We want thieves and criminals where they belong: in prison," declared René Muñoz Clock.

Source: https://www.latribuna.cl/agroforestal/2022/10/19/contratistas-forestales-esperan-mejoras-en-las-condiciones-laborales-por-nueva-legislacion-nacional.html