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MPOC commends SDP's changes in labour practices
MPOC commends SDP's changes in labour practices
16.02.2022 (www.nst.com.my) - KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Plantation Bhd's (SDP) commitment to making sweeping changes to its labour practises is a clear signal that the Malaysian palm oil sector is serious about its global responsibilities.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOB) chairman Larry Sng Wei Shein said the council commended SDP for taking this critical step to improve its workers' conditions.
Sng said this is mainly focused on its recruitment of migrant workers and the voice of workers on the plantation.
"The commitment to reimburse recruitment fees of current and former foreign workers and the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy towards rogue recruitment agencies is a clear signal that the Malaysian palm oil sector is serious about its global responsibilities," he said in a statement.
Sng said MPOC is committed to improving conditions for all its workers and eradicating any such labour rights violations.
"MPOC remains steadfast in continuing a constructive dialogue with the United States (US) custom and border protection (CBP) and other US government bodies.
"We reiterate our call for greater transparency in this process and for our trading partners in Washington to take into account these significant developments taking place inside Malaysia," he said.
In recent months, the Malaysian palm oil sector has instituted a series of commitments and action plans implemented by private growers and palm oil companies across Malaysia.
These actions send a clear message to customers, governments and stakeholders around the world that the private sector of the Malaysian palm oil industry understands the concerns around labour rights and is committed to rectifying problems that do exist.
Sng said the actions of SDP, along with those taken by the broader industry, demonstrate real and concrete reforms.
Notably, he said these changes are aligned with many of the recommendations set out by, among others, the International Labor Organisation, the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the US Department of Labor's List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, as well as by the US CBP.
"MPOC looks forward to the US authorities recognising the value and impact of these reforms and adjusting its assessment of the Malaysian palm oil sector accordingly," he added.