Social dialogue

Organized labour and trade unions are rather rare in forestry. The workforce is dispersed, geographically mobile and sometimes seasonal. The number of workers that are typically organized, permanent employees of larger enterprises is falling steadily. Labour inspectorates are faced with similar problems of access to the workforce as trade unions. There is therefore little inspection. Forestry workers thus enjoy little protection in the exercise of their rights. In spite of weak labour organizations, tripartite cooperation at the national and local level has worked very well in some countries and companies.

In the formal wood industries sub-sector levels of organization are variable, but always much higher than in forestry. They are usually in line with those in other manufacturing industries. The pulp sector, with its large units, is highly organized both among workers and employers. This is less true for paper.