InfoSAWIT, SAMBAS – International scale – conference about fair transition in palm oil industries was officially inaugurated. It was a two day – conference in District of Sambas, West Kalimantan Province and attended by many parties that related to palm oil industries, such as, labors, labors’ unions, local people, indigenous people, environmental groups and activists, feminism groups, and others both from this country and others.
Regional Secretary District of Sambas, H. Fery Madagaskar said that labors are important components in palm oil industries. By having the conference, it is hoped to solve the industrial relation between labors and the companies.
“Hopefully the output from the conference would deliver inputs of solution on palm oil industrial issues for Sambas and Indonesia,” H. Fery said in his speech and inaugurated the conference.
Executive Director of Sawit Watch, Achmad Surambo said that the fair transition would discuss unfair condition. We should discuss not only about salary but also agrarian conflicts.
“The two day – conference would be important day and history. Let us discuss together about fair transition in palm oil plantations. What it is, should be with nowadays context. We have to come to a conclusion what ideal condition we hope for to lead what we would do in the future and would be one action for everyone of us,” he said, as in the official statement to InfoSAWIT, Tuesday (28/11/2023).
Transnational Palm Oil Labor Solidarity (TPOLS), Rizal said that the fast palm oil plantation development delivers big profits for some parties but it is not seen in labors’ reality. It just raised agrarian conflicts because of palm oil plantings and natural damages.
“The bad condition from palm oil industries is the big issue to be solved with labors, feminism groups, and indigenous people,” he said.
Tina Goethe of HEKS said that palm oil industries are developing in many countries. Palm oil plantation labors are in bed condition; the indigenous people lost their indigenous land and forests are damaged. “It needs industrial transformation from social and ecology aspect. Transformation should be developed by labors, feminism, and indigenous communities’ perspectives,” she said. (T2)
