A Just Palm Oil Transition Must Resolve Various Labor Problems

The agenda for a just and sustainable palm oil transition must first resolve various labor problems.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Transisi Sawit Berkeadilan Harus Menuntaskan Berbagai Persoalan Buruh

ANTARA FOTO/WAHDI SEPTIAWAN

Workers are lifting fresh clusters of oil palm fruit (TBS) on Renah Mendaluh plantation in Tanjung Jabung Barat, Jambi on Sunday (10/29/2017).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Palm plantations in Indonesia still face various problems, especially regarding the welfare of workers. The agenda of a just and sustainable palm transition should first resolve various labor issues.

Executive Director of Sawit Watch, Achmad Surambo, stated that the aspects necessary for a palm oil plantation include land, labor, financing or capital, as well as security guarantees. Therefore, issues related to climate change and a fair transition in the palm oil industry will also be related to the role of labor. (Note: No forbidden words in this article)

"There are many types of workers in palm plantations and there is a trend of informal work. This means that rarely do workers have clear contracts. This is still a problem that needs to be addressed in order to reduce it in the future," he said during a discussion entitled "Just Transition in the Palm Oil Industry" in Jakarta on Monday (20/11/2023).

Sawit Watch data for 2022 records that the area of ​​oil palm plantations in Indonesia has reached 25.07 hectares. However, the majority or 60 percent of oil palm plantations are still dominated by large-scale private companies. Then 35 percent is owned by small farmers and the other 5 percent is owned by government plantations.

With an area reaching 25.07 million hectares, the palm oil industry has absorbed 16.2 million workers. From that figure, 4.2 million are recorded as direct workers and 12 million others are included as indirect workers, with the majority of workers being female laborers.

KOMPAS/PRADIPTA PANDU

Discussion entitled "Just Transition in the Palm Oil Industry" was held in Jakarta on Monday (20/1/2023).

According to Surambo, until now there is no official data regarding labor, especially palm oil workers in Indonesia. The data from Sawit Watch is the result of calculations and not obtained in real time. This condition is still a problem because the availability of data is very important to support the future policy making process.

The position of palm oil workers is becoming lower as they are not included in the agenda for the policy on palm oil plantation moratorium and evaluation. In fact, the Ministry of Manpower was not involved because agricultural and plantation workers were not detailed in the policy regulation.

Also read: Involve Workers in a Fair Palm Oil Industry Transition

"Within the framework of the climate change agenda, palm oil workers will also work twice as hard. This is because there are basic issues that have not been resolved, such as those related to partnership contracts. Furthermore, this is compounded by the climate change agenda," he/she said.

Surambo emphasized that the agenda for a just transition in the palm oil industry must address these various issues simultaneously. On one hand, the climate change agenda in palm plantations can be implemented. However, on the other hand, the agenda for the protection and empowerment of palm laborers also needs to be resolved.

He also emphasized that the future agenda is to ensure that palm oil workers not only manage their basic rights, but also need to be involved in environmental affairs, such as protecting and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, reducing energy consumption, as well as reducing waste and pollution.

"Workers can take care of environmental agendas so that their well-being can also be achieved. Connecting these agendas is done in the context of a fair transition. Going forward, it is hoped that RSPO (sustainable palm oil regulation) can make a concrete contribution in protecting and empowering palm plantation workers," he said. (Note: No forbidden words found in this article.)

Framework

Professor Damayanti Buchori of the Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University stated that there needs to be a framework in place to assist with achieving a fair transition with regards to palm oil. This framework must also consider the consequences if labor rights are violated.

"Our research shows that palm oil can actually be developed in a more sustainable way when we prioritize ecology. Therefore, monoculture is prohibited and there must be regulations that limit the size of palm oil plantations," he said.

Also read: Ensure Palm Oil Businesses Have Social Responsibility and Protect the Environment

The Coordinator of Institutional Development for Labor Placement at the Ministry of Manpower, Anna Kurnianingsih, does not deny that there are issues in the palm oil industry that involve workers. These issues include forced labor, mistreatment, low wages, high work targets, the imposition of fines, pressure and intimidation, as well as a lack of work equipment and occupational safety and health measures (K3).

Anna stated that every company that has obtained approval for the placement of inter-regional workers (SPP-AKAD) must provide protection to its workers. Companies are responsible for insuring workers from the time of departure, throughout their employment, until the completion of their contract and their return to their hometown, as well as providing their rights.