SEPASI Exposes Serious Issues Facing Palm Oil Workers in Indonesia

Palm Oil Magazine
Illustration of workers loading oil palm FFBs into a truck. Photo by: Sawit Fest 2021 / Deddy Hendrawan

PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — The Indonesian Palm Oil Workers Union (SEPASI) has shed light on the pressing issues faced by palm oil plantation workers in Indonesia. In a recent report, Dianto Arifin of SEPASI highlighted poor working conditions, unfair wage systems, and exploitative recruitment practices that expose workers to potential human rights violations.

Workers on palm oil plantations are subjected to two wage systems: piece-rate and time-based. However, both fail to guarantee stable incomes. Female workers, particularly those involved in fertilization and herbicide spraying, endure heavy workloads without standardized wages. Their earnings are further diminished by weather conditions and inconsistent work schedules, often falling far below a decent living wage.

Read More

Adding to their challenges, workers are burdened with the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, and aprons. They are also required to purchase their own tools, including harvesting equipment and spraying gear, which can cost them hundreds of thousands of rupiah each month.

Also Read: President Prabowo: Palm Oil is a Strategic Commodity to Protect

Dianto emphasized the high risk of workplace accidents in the sector. Harvesters frequently suffer injuries from falling palm fruits or fronds, with some even losing their sight due to severe incidents.

Female workers also face the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals without regular health checks from the company. “Companies should provide medical check-ups and PPE for free, but in reality, workers have to bear all these costs,” Dianto emphasized during the End-of-Year Press Conference on Palm Oil Plantation Workers 2024, attended by Palmoilmagazine.com recently.

Non-procedural recruitment practices are also a focus for SEPASI. Migrant workers from outside the island are often recruited through intermediaries without clear employment agreements. As a result, many feel deceived and do not receive wages as initially agreed. Dianto links this situation to the potential for human trafficking, especially when companies wash their hands of responsibility for violations that occur.

SEPASI calls for four main steps to improve the conditions of palm oil plantation workers: first, training and certification for workers, especially women in fertilization and spraying roles. Second, regular health checks to identify the impacts of chemical exposure; third, the provision of PPE and work tools for free by companies; and fourth, strengthening labor oversight by the government, particularly through labor offices in each region.

Dianto hopes these efforts can encourage improvements in labor relations and working conditions in the coming year. “We hope that 2025 will be a turning point for creating a fairer and more humane working environment for palm oil plantation workers,” he concluded. (P2)

READ MORE ON GOOGLE NEWS. or Let's join the Telegram group "Palm Oil Magazine", click the link Channel PalmOilMagazine, and join. You must first install the Telegram application on your android.

Related posts

Leave a Reply