InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — Despite having developed over hundreds of years, the palm oil plantation industry in Indonesia is still marked by exploitative practices and challenges in protecting workers. This was emphasized by the Transnational Palm Oil Labour Solidarity Network (TPOLS) in their year-end report, which highlighted the conditions of plantation workers and their impact on surrounding communities.
The work structure in palm oil plantations still adopts old patterns considered a legacy of colonialism, such as the use of terms like Afdeling or Komidel. However, even though this sector employs millions, plantation workers often face injustices, including low wages and poor working conditions.
In an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Saturday, December 28, 2024, Rizal Assalam, the Coordinator of TPOLS, revealed that their findings indicate six main ongoing issues throughout 2024: low wages and poor working conditions, gender exploitation and hazardous working conditions, manipulation of RSPO certification and audits, land conflicts due to plantation expansion, the use of violence by security forces, and restrictions on the freedom to associate.
National regulations, such as the Job Creation Law, are seen as reinforcing exploitative practices through legal legitimization of casual labor recruitment and a piece-rate wage system. Damar Panca, the Secretary-General of KPBI, criticized this law for failing to provide adequate protection for workers.
At the global level, regulations like the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) have sparked debate. Hotler "Zidane" Parsaoran from Sawit Watch emphasized that without clear labor protection mechanisms, international regulations will only exacerbate inequalities.
Sawit Watch and TPOLS urge the government to pass the Draft Law on the Protection of Palm Oil Plantation Workers. According to Zidane, the physical needs of plantation workers are much higher than in other sectors, while basic facilities such as sanitation, clean water, and healthcare services remain minimal.
As a first step, TPOLS has published the Sambas Declaration, calling for social and ecological justice in palm oil plantations. This declaration serves as a guide to building a fairer system for both workers and the surrounding communities.
Given the existing challenges, the transition to a sustainable palm oil industry requires not only regulatory reforms but also a commitment to ensuring justice for all parties involved. (T2)