InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI) has officially launched a guideline book for Daily Work Agreements (PKH) as part of efforts to realize better labor practices in the palm oil plantation sector. The book, titled "PADU PERKASA" or General Guidelines for Sustainable Palm Oil Daily Work Agreements, is the result of collaboration among various stakeholders, including labor unions and NGOs.
Sumarjono Saragih, Head of Human Resource Development at GAPKI, emphasized that the use of PKH must be implemented correctly to avoid harming workers or employers. "Flexibility in PKH is a reality in the national and global labor market. However, it is essential to ensure that this practice does not eliminate workers' rights and still meets decent work principles in sustainable palm oil industry," he stated to InfoSAWIT on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
PKH is a new terminology that replaces the term Casual Daily Labor (BHL), in accordance with Government Regulation No. 35/2021 on Work Agreements. For years, BHL practices have often been critically scrutinized by various parties, including labor unions and NGOs. Therefore, GAPKI took the initiative to compile guidelines that can serve as a reference for palm oil growers of various business scales to understand and comply with regulations related to PKH.
The PADU PERKASA book is the third in a series of labor guidelines compiled by GAPKI. Previously, the first book on the Protection of Women Workers and the second regarding Child-Friendly Indonesian Palm Oil were published. The preparation of this book involved various parties, including the Labor Union Network of Palm Oil Workers and the Earthworm Foundation, which has experience in research on BHL.
"Multi-stakeholder collaboration is crucial for creating a fairer labor system. GAPKI has not found it difficult to engage labor unions and NGOs because since 2018, it has built social dialogue with various parties," Sumarjono added.
The PADU PERKASA book is expected to serve as a primary guide for plantation companies in implementing PKH systems that comply with regulations and support sustainability principles in the palm oil industry. The soft copy of this book can be downloaded at www.wispo.id/. (T2)
