KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 — A United States (US) delegation has visited the Sime Darby Plantation Bhd’s (SDP) operations in Carey Island, Selangor to have a better understanding about the company’s plantation industry labour practices and operations.
The delegation comprised representatives of the US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP), the Department of Labour, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and officials from the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
SDP group managing director Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said SDP has an opportunity to share the company’s experience and the enormity of the challenges it faced when instituting sweeping changes in labour practices and standards throughout its Malaysian operations.
“Given the sheer scale and complexity of our operations, we really had our work cut out to ensure our workers feel engaged and safe, and have a clear understanding of their rights.
“Today, they have a high level of trust in the platforms we had established for them to communicate their questions, concerns or grievances.
“On our part, we have committed to responding in a timely manner and to continuously monitor the quality of their living and working conditions,” he said in a statement today.
The delegates also met Deputy Prime Minister and Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and had the opportunity to discuss continued bilateral collaboration and trade issues during a working lunch with the DPM at the end of the visit.
The courtesy visit organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council just over two weeks after the modification by the USCBP of forced labour finding against SDP provided an opportunity for the delegates to learn more about oil palm plantation operations and get an up-close view of the daily lives of plantation workers in SDP.
On February 3, 2023, the USCBP modified its forced labour finding against SDP which resulted in the immediate lifting of a US import ban imposed on palm oil produced by the company’s Malaysian operations since Dec 30, 2020.
On April 26, 2021, SDP submitted a comprehensive report to the USCBP detailing the enhancements that were implemented to improve its labour standards and practices.
With the modification of the USCBP finding in place and the recognition of its many new and improved initiatives, he said SDP has committed to advocating for change at an industry level.
— Bernama
