PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian government has once again underscored its commitment to sustainable palm oil practices and the elimination of labor exploitation. As of June 30, 2025, a total of 5.03 million hectares — equivalent to 89.6% of the country’s oil palm plantations — have been certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standard.
The achievement was announced by Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Chan Fong Hin, during the opening of the “Know Your Rights, Do It Right” Programme Series 1/2025 held in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (Aug 4). The event was also attended by the Ministry’s Secretary-General, Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof.
“This figure reflects the Malaysian palm oil industry’s ongoing commitment to implementing plantation practices that meet international standards,” Chan stated, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from The Edge Markets on Tuesday (Aug 5, 2025).
Chan emphasized that the MSPO certification initiative not only addresses environmental and sustainability aspects but also enforces stringent labor standards to ensure that companies and plantation owners are not involved in forced labor practices.
“MSPO requires all certified entities to comply with the Employment Act 1955, which explicitly prohibits any form of forced or non-consensual labor,” he explained.
According to Chan, the “Know Your Rights” program aims to provide clear and accurate information to agribusiness stakeholders on labor-related issues, particularly those involving foreign workers.
Currently, over 75% of the approximately 280,000 workers in Malaysia’s palm oil plantation sector are migrant laborers — the majority from Indonesia, followed by Bangladesh, India, and Nepal.
“The government is aware that heavy reliance on foreign labor can pose various risks, including exploitation and forced labor, especially when recruitment processes lack transparency,” Chan noted.
He also cautioned that such practices could trigger trade restrictions from partner countries such as the United States if human rights violations are found within the supply chain.
“Therefore, the Ministry is taking proactive measures through programs like this to ensure labor issues no longer hinder the growth of the plantation sector,” he affirmed. (P2)
