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ILO Accepted Forestry Contractors' Claim Against Chile for Failing to Comply with Workplace Safety Convention

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The International Labour Organization (ILO) accepted the claim filed against the State of Chile on July 15 of this year by the Forestry Contractors Association (Acoforag), accusing it of non-compliance with Convention 187, which establishes the promotional national framework for occupational safety and health. On December 22, the UN agency, in addition to accepting the claim, agreed to establish "a Tripartite Committee for Voluntary Conciliation," which was proposed by Acoforag, and informed the Government of Chile accordingly.

NON-COMPLIANCE

The manager of Acoforag, René Muñoz, explained that this claim responds "to the persistent action of terrorist groups in the Southern Macrozone," with the consequent effect on the life and health of forestry workers.

In this regard, Muñoz added that in their sector they have not seen a decrease in attacks, as the Government has reported in general terms, noting that "so far in 2025 we have had the same number of attacks as last year: the same 26, for us nothing has changed."

Given this background, Muñoz explained that "the claim is because here we cannot work. Therefore, we went to the ILO and told them, look, here in Chile and in the Southern Macrozone, we forestry workers have had five workers killed since 2022 to date. Our workers are beaten, kidnapped, they cannot work or get home, they cannot work in a safe, peaceful, and tranquil environment. Therefore, the State of Chile is not complying with this convention that establishes a national policy on occupational safety and health."

Regarding the deadline for the State of Chile to form the committee, it is six months. "The current government can kick the commission to the next one, but they have to answer to the ILO. We proposed this voluntary conciliation commission because we are interested in discussing the issue and finding a solution. However, we will not accept the CUT (Unified Workers' Center) as a valid interlocutor. It could be a union or a Bipartite Committee. We will set our terms because this issue has been going on for a long time."

Muñoz emphasized that as an association "it is our duty to ensure that the State of Chile complies with the conventions it signs and, as a priority, to ensure that the conditions in which forestry workers work are safe and they are not exposed to violent attacks that endanger their physical and psychological integrity, as is happening today in the Southern Macrozone."

Source:Austral de Temuco