Natural Resin Value Chain

Nature of Modern Slavery in the Value Chain

Natural resin tapping is labour-intensive and typically informal. Documented and likely risks include:

• Debt Bondage & Recruitment Fees: Workers often borrow money or supplies from recruiters and contractors, leading to debt cycles.

• Underpaid Piece Rates: Tappers are paid per kilogram of resin; low rates require long hours and strenuous output.

• Unsafe Working Conditions: Work involves sharp tools, exposure to chemicals, and long hours without safety gear or training.

• Lack of Protections: Workers generally lack contracts, legal protections, or access to unions or grievance mechanisms.

• Control & Isolation: In some cases, labourers are kept in remote forest camps, with restricted movement and delayed wages.

These patterns match ILO forced labour indicators and are common in unregulated commodity sectors.

Geographic Focus

• China: Largest global producer, with migrant labourers tapping trees in southern and interior provinces.

• Brazil & Mexico: Key exporters of natural resin, with varying levels of formalization across plantations and forest operations.

• East Africa: Tanzania and Uganda’s resin trade is growing rapidly, driven by demand from Chinese buyers, who now dominate exports, and policy has not kept up with this growth.

Evidence from Reports

There are limited studies that target this often-unregulated pine resin market.  

ILO and Global Slavery Index reports confirm forestry and agriculture have the highest rates of forced labour globally.

EU–FAO and national reports highlight risks in Uganda and Tanzania, where informal collection and foreign buyer dominance raise concerns.

Industry and Regulatory Response

• Certification: The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) requires compliance with core labour standards, including bans on forced labour.

• Corporate Policies: Some resin processors have published anti-slavery policies, though uptake remains limited.

• Government Action: Uganda and Tanzania are drafting guidelines for resin tapping, but enforcement remains weak.

Challenges in Addressing the Issue

• Fragmented Supply Chains: Resin is collected by dispersed informal workers, making oversight difficult.

• Lack of Regulation: Few labour inspections reach rural forests.

• Low Bargaining Power: Tappers are often poor, landless, and unaware of their rights.

• Profit Motives: Cash-based nature of resin trade incentivizes outsourcing and exploitation.

Recommendations and Pathways Forward

• Understand the pine resin value chain and associated labour right issues.

• Develop fair-trade or certified sourcing systems for natural resin including strengthening national labour inspection regimes.

• Organize worker cooperatives and promote shared benefit models at the forest level.

• Mandate supply chain transparency and due diligence from downstream buyers and manufacturers.

As resin production expands in East Africa, the sector stands at a critical juncture. With proper regulation and inclusive development, it can offer decent rural employment. Without it, exploitative labour models seen in other commodities may take hold.