Category: Blog

Reforms undertaken by the Malaysian palm oil sector over the past 6-9 months are making significant advances ahead of the industry’s own expectations, but also are clearly aligned with the expectations and conditions set out by the U.S. government. A case in point is recruitment fees. The Malaysian palm oil sector has set a clear…

On 21st March, the Malaysian Government ratified International Labour Organization (ILO) Protocol 29 on Forced Labour, in another major development for labour rights and for workers throughout Malaysia. Senior ILO officials were present in support of the government’s efforts, including ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, and ILO Pacific Regional Director, Chihoko Asada Miyakawa. This is the…

Malaysia’s Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) has released the following statement, in response to the reforms announced by Sime Darby earlier this week: “Malaysia’s Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) fully supports the recent announcement by Sime Darby Plantation to adopt sweeping operational and governance reforms of its labour and recruitment practices.…

Announcement will see current and former workers reimbursed for recruitment fees Today, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council lauds the announcement by Sime Darby of sweeping changes to its labour practices, especially with respect to its recruitment of migrant workers and the voice of workers on the plantation. The following statement can be attributed to Chairman…

The Malaysian Government’s Zuraida Kamaruddin, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, called the action by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency “hasty” following their decision against Sime Darby, last week. Minister Kamaruddin noted that the Malaysian government will seek clarity from the U.S. CBP why they moved against Sime Darby while the company…

Today, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) issued a Notice of Finding against Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP). The following statement can be attributed to Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, YB Tuan Larry Sng Wei Shein: “Forced labour has no place in the Malaysian palm oil supply chain. The Malaysian Palm…

Recently, the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) announced a Responsible Employment Charter to address concerns around labor rights in the palm oil supply chain. The MPOA Responsible Employment Charter commits to: Prohibition on recruitment fees charged to jobseekers No retention of workers’ passports or similar restrictions on freedom of movement Actively supporting workers joining trade…

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $5 million cooperative agreement to Social Accountability International (SAI) to prevent and reduce forced labor and child labor abuses in the Malaysian palm oil and garment industries. The Malaysian palm oil sector is committed to the mission of strong labor policies, practices and enforcement of…

The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) has announced a new Responsible Employment Charter that commits all members of MPOA to a binding set of commitments on labour rights. The Charter can be read in full here and includes: Prohibition on recruitment fees charged to jobseekers No retention of workers’ passports or similar restrictions on freedom…

This week’s must read on palm oil is an exclusive sit down with Malaysia’s Palm Oil Minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin. In the second installment of our two-part series, Minister Kamaruddin talks one of the biggest challenges facing the sector – accusation of labor and human rights violations. This is the second article in a two-part series.  Q:…