Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia has made history by becoming the first country in the world to adopt and adapt the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Guidelines for the forestry sector, developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO). This achievement was marked by the official launch of the translated and nationally adapted ILO Forestry OSH Guidelines in Jakarta on Monday (April 28, 2025).
At the event, which coincided with the commemoration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Indra, Special Staff to the Minister of Manpower, emphasized that OSH is a fundamental part of national achievement. “We aim not just to record fewer workplace accidents, but to achieve zero accidents. This is a major milestone in nation-building,” said Indra, representing Minister of Manpower Yassierli in his press statement.
Indra stated that the Ministry of Manpower is committed to advocating for the revision and renewal of OSH-related laws to align with current developments and needs. The target is for the new OSH regulations to be enacted by 2026.
Dida Mighfar Ridha, Expert Staff to the Minister of Forestry, said that the launch of the Forestry Sector OSH Guidelines is expected to serve as a starting point for transforming the forestry sector to become safer, healthier, and more sustainable.
He explained that this moment is particularly important in line with the Ministry of Forestry’s policy of developing Multi-Business Forestry to optimize the utilization of forest products. “Workers are now faced with the challenge of maximizing benefits and downstream processing, adding value to products, which of course requires strong occupational safety and health measures,” said Dida, representing Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni.
ILO Director for Indonesia and Timor Leste, Simrin Singh, expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s efforts. “Today you are inspiring the world as the first country to launch the Forestry Sector OSH Guidelines. This is not just an ordinary document. It is a breakthrough that can create a domino effect in many other countries,” she said.
Simrin also encouraged Indonesia to leverage the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance OSH implementation in the forestry sector, in line with this year’s global OSH theme focusing on the use of AI to support workplace safety.
The Importance of OSH in the Forestry Sector
Rulita Wijayaningdyah, Secretary General of the Federation of Indonesian Forestry and Wood Workers’ Union (KAHUTINDO), emphasized that the forestry sector is classified as high-risk for accidents and occupational diseases. “The difficult topography and challenging geographical conditions make this sector prone to accidents. Yet safety is a fundamental right of workers,” said Rulita Wijayaningdyah.
KAHUTINDO, together with its global affiliate Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), was actively involved in drafting the revised ILO Forestry OSH Guidelines, which were adopted in May 2024. The launch of the national adaptation is expected to strengthen the implementation of OSH management systems across all forest management units in Indonesia.
This launch was the result of close collaboration between the Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI), the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the ILO Jakarta Office, and KAHUTINDO.
APHI Chairman Indroyono Soesilo stated that this collaboration aligns with efforts to foster a conducive and sustainable forestry business climate. “The public, both domestic and international, is increasingly demanding responsible forest management practices, including in the protection of occupational safety and health,” said Indroyono.
According to him, strong OSH practices will enhance the competitiveness of the forestry industry, especially for export-oriented products. With around 144 million workers in Indonesia — 83 million of whom are in the informal sector — implementing OSH principles presents a major challenge but also an opportunity to strengthen the national economy. Close collaboration between the government, workers, and employers is seen as key to creating safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces.
This launch also reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to building a forestry sector that is not only productive and sustainable but also prioritizes the safety and health of workers. *
