InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Based on the latest survey result, about 15% to 20% palm oil harvesters in palm oil plantations in Kalimantan, were from Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Province. Chairman in Human Resource Development Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA), Sumarjono Saragih said it.

He thought, the labors from NTT have naturally become the back – bones of palm oil plantation productivity in Kalimantan. “They are hard workers, having strong physical appearances. These are needed to be the productive harvesters,” he said. With such capability, the labors of NTT would get two or three times of income from the province minimum wages in Kalimantan.

But when the needs of labors got increased, the migration from NTT to Kalimantan would make the chances for labor recruit agents increase. Unfortunately, some agents operating out of the official procedures, often delivered losses for the workers and would increase the risks to human trafficking.

“This would deliver losses not only for the labors but aso for the bad images of palm oil industries in a whole,” Saragih said, as InfoSAWIT quoted, Monday (21/10/2024).

In association with it, the Regency of Manggarai Raya (West, Central, and East) in NTT Province did the strategic things to improve the labor migration system to Kalimantan.

The local government got the initiative to manage and escalate the supervision when recruiting the labors. Besides, they should cooperate with many parties, such as, IPOA to confirm that the labors’ recruit would be official and avoid breaking the laws.

The collaboration should deliver better protection for the labors of NTT and would increase the positive images of palm oil industries in Indonesia that still massively face the challenges in sustainability and human rights (protection). (T2)