FSC and ASI Develop Training Manual to Strengthen Core Labour Requirements Implementation Across CoC Certification

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International, in close collaboration with Assurance Services International (ASI), has developed new training materials on Core Labour Requirements (CLRs)—a key initiative aimed at enhancing auditor competence and ensuring consistent implementation of labour rights safeguards across the FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) system. These materials are now available to all accredited certification bodies (CBs) to support the training of their auditors in this important area of the FSC normative framework.

This work responds directly to the challenges identified following the introduction of CLRs in 2021, when the revision of FSC-STD-40-004 v3.1 came into effect. It introduced four fundamental labour principles into the CoC standard: No Child Labour (7.2), No Forced or Compulsory Labour (7.3), No Discrimination (7.4), and Freedom of Association and Effective Collective Bargaining (7.5). These requirements marked a significant shift by introducing a level of social auditing not traditionally embedded in FSC certification. Nearly two years into implementation, gaps in understanding and inconsistencies across regions have prompted this renewed focus on training and alignment.

Identifying the gaps: a joint assessment effort

In 2021, ASI conducted a legal framework analysis in 19 countries on behalf of FSC. The findings pointed to substantial variation in how CLRs were understood and applied, revealing implementation challenges and associated risks within the FSC CoC system.

ASI’s review continued with desk-based research by external labour rights experts, alongside a survey of CBs, and a review of selected certificate holders. One clear takeaway emerged: CBs showed varying levels of understanding of labour-related risks, highlighting the need for clearer guidance and a more aligned approach across the system.

Capacity building through regional workshops

In 2023, FSC and ASI delivered four in-person training and calibration workshops in Türkiye, China, Indonesia, and India, aiming to raise awareness and understanding of CLRs among FSC CoC auditors. A total of 111 auditors participated. Feedback from the workshops confirmed improved competence, but also revealed a continued need for practical guidance, especially on audit planning, risk identification, and verification methods.

A key conclusion: system-wide training support was still needed.

Turning insight into action: a practical training tool for system-wide impact

Building on the outcomes of the 2023 workshops and earlier research, FSC has commissioned ASI to develop a comprehensive training manual to support CBs in strengthening auditor competence on Core Labour Requirements (CLRs).

While the primary audience of the manual is trainers within CBs, who are responsible for auditor qualification, it is intended to ultimately benefit all FSC CoC auditors with the knowledge and tools to carry out consistent, high-quality evaluations of CLRs in audits. It builds on training experiences in China, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Türkiye, and Bolivia, as well as materials shared by CBs already active in this space.

The material offers a complete one-day training structure, along with pre- and post- training activities, a final test, and detailed lecture notes to support delivery. Beyond explaining the FSC CLRs themselves, it provides guidance on how to plan audits with CLRs in mind, collect and triangulate evidence effectively, and conduct interviews with a social auditing lens.

Importantly, the material helps shift the perception of CLRs as an ‘add-on’ to audits. Instead, it shows how these requirements can be naturally embedded into standard CoC auditing processes. This integrated approach supports more effective, consistent, and credible implementation of labour rights requirements within the FSC certification system.

To access the training materials, CBs can visit this link.