03/12/2014 (Bernama) - Malaysia has been listed by the US Department of Labor (US DOL) as one of the countries practicing forced labour in the oil palm industry in The Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor in the last five consecutive reports in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. In its latest report dated 1 December 2014, Malaysia has been listed as one of the countries which practices not only forced labour but also child labour in the oil palm industry.
 
The Government of Malaysia does not condone any act of forced labour and child labour and takes seriously the allegations and findings in the report of the US DOL. As a member of International Labour Organization (ILO), Malaysia adheres to the ILO’s Convention No. 29 concerning forced labour and Convention No. 182 concerning child labour. In this respect, Article 6 of the Federal Constitution stipulates that no person shall be held in slavery and forced labour is prohibited. Malaysia has also enacted the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 to provide regulations to protect children and young persons who are engaged in employment in terms of working hours, type of work and others.

The palm oil industry is one of the most highly regulated industries in Malaysia. Currently, the palm oil industry subscribes to more than 60 laws and regulations which include criteria on labour practices. The palm oil industry recognises the importance of workers and has taken great efforts to ensure the welfare of the workers is taken care.

The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) has undertaken a six month Preliminary Survey on the Labour Situation in Malaysian Oil Palm Plantations that was completed in June 2014. The study which is based on the ILO Guideline (Hard to See, Harder to Count) covered workers, employers and labour contractors. The survey was carried out in 68 oil palm plantations and smallholdings in Selangor, Perak, Johor, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak and covered 1,632 workers. The interviews were conducted without the presence of the employers.
 
The findings showed that:
i.  Cases of employers withholding passport of foreign workers were minimal i.e. 0.4% of the total respondents covered;
ii.  No systematic condition of forced labour in the Malaysian oil palm plantations and smallholdings;
iii. In the case of Sabah, the study shows children of foreign workers accompany their parents to the work area due to lack of supervision at home and assist in simple tasks such as loose fruit collection. However, this is only allowed after school hours, weekends and holidays; and
iv. There is an active labour market in the oil palm plantations and foreign workers can find alternative work.

MPIC will coordinate the outcomes of this study with the relevant Ministries and agencies to strengthen labour laws and regulations in the oil palm plantations.

In support of sustainable development of the palm oil industry, Malaysia will be implementing the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme beginning January 2015. Under MSPO, the criteria for certification include compliance to labour laws and regulations, health, safety and employment conditions.

MPIC does not condone any form of child labour and forced labour in the oil palm plantations. In addition, MPIC would like to reiterate that labour issues in the oil palm plantations will be continuously monitored and appropriate actions will be taken to address this issue. The oil palm industry is the major component of the agriculture sector and a major export revenue earner. In this context, the Government will continue to undertake measures to project the positive image of the industry.

Source : Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Name  : Amisam Ismail
               Ketua Komunikasi Korporat
               Kementerian Perusahaan Peladangan dan Komoditi
Tel       : 03-8880 3321
Email : amisham@mpic.gov.my