14 June 2022

BENTONG, 14 JUNE 2022 – FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV), the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Malaysia co-organised a workshop to promote greater awareness and understanding on the issue of forced labour and child labour among FGV’s plantation workers.

The workshop, held at FGV’s Krau Complex in Bentong, Pahang, was facilitated by MTUC’s representatives and participated by approximately 60 workers and 30 management personnel from FGV’s surrounding plantations. Also present were Encik Mohd Nazrul Izam Mansor, FGV’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Encik Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani, MTUC’s Deputy President, Encik Kamarul Baharin Mansor, MTUC’s Secretary-General, and Mr. Josh Hong, ILO Malaysia’s National Project Coordinator.

The awareness session was a joint effort by FGV, MTUC and ILO Malaysia to support the global and national agenda against forced labour and child labour and to contribute to the implementation of Malaysia’s National Action Plan on Forced Labour (2021-2025) and the National Pledge against Child Labour. This activity is conducted under the Advancing Workers’ Rights in the Palm Oil Sector in Indonesia and Malaysia Project.

FGV Group Chief Executive Officer, Encik Nazrul Izam Mansor said, “FGV is fully committed to playing its part in the fight against forced labour and child labour. We firmly believe that these topics are of such importance they deserve long-term focus and commitment. We know that resolving them will require a multi-stakeholder collaboration that brings together all relevant stakeholders including businesses, government agencies and civil society organisations.”

He also mentioned that the awareness session is part of a range of programmes and initiatives by FGV to enhance its labour practices and to uphold labour standards. This is a key part of FGV’s declared commitment to sustainability and to the human rights agenda.

Encik Nazrul Izam Mansor is delivering an opening remarks at the awareness session. 

MTUC Secretary-General, Encik Kamarul Baharin Mansor said, “Eliminating forced labour and child labour can only be achieved if there is enough awareness and understanding of the subject among all quarters particularly workers, children, parents and enforcement agencies.”

He added that with awareness, workers and children would be in a better position to protect themselves from becoming victims of forced labour and child labour.

From left: Encik Kamarul Baharin Mansor,MTUC’s Secretary General with Encik Nazrul Izam Mansor, Group Chief Executive Officer of FGV. 

The interactive session, which was attended by migrant workers from Bangladesh, India and Indonesia was conducted in the Bengali, Hindi and Malay languages for better comprehension, and focused on the 11 ILO Indicators of Forced Labour as well as measures to prevent and address child labour.

Mr. Josh Hong of ILO Malaysia highlighted the importance of freedom of association and collective bargaining as a way to empower the workers, and reiterated the ILO’s continued support for cross-sector collaboration to end forced labour and child labour in Malaysia.

FGV, MTUC and ILO Malaysia acknowledge that awareness raising is one of many measures that need to be undertaken to effectively address forced labour and child labour, and that awareness raising must be accompanied by collective action on other aspects including policy and legal reforms, advocacy and enforcement, among other things.

FGV, MTUC and ILO Malaysia reiterate their continued commitment to play a meaningful role in these efforts.

End

BENTONG, 14 JUN 2022 – FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV), Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) dan Pertubuhan Buruh Antarabangsa (ILO) Malaysia telah menganjurkan bengkel kerjasama bagi meningkatkan kesedaran dan pemahaman mengenai isu buruh paksa dan buruh kanak-kanak di kalangan pekerja ladang FGV.

Bengkel ini yang diadakan di Kompleks Krau FGV di Bentong, Pahang dikendalikan oleh wakil MTUC dan disertai lebih kurang 60 pekerja dan 30 kakitangan pengurusan daripada ladang FGV. Turut hadir ketika bengkel tersebut adalah Encik Mohd Nazrul Izam Mansor, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan FGV, Encik Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani, Timbalan Presiden MTUC, Encik Kamarul Baharin Mansor, Setiausaha Agung MTUC, dan Encik Josh Hong, Penyelaras Projek Nasional ILO Malaysia.

Sesi ini merupakan kerjasama antara FGV, MTUC dan ILO Malaysia bagi menyokong agenda global dan nasional untuk membasmi buruh paksa dan buruh kanak-kanak, serta menyumbang kepada pelaksanaan Pelan Tindakan Kebangsaan Malaysia mengenai Buruh Paksa (2021-2025) dan Ikrar Kebangsaan untuk Membasmi Buruh Kanak-Kanak. Aktiviti ini dilaksanakan di bawah projek Memajukan Hak Pekerja dalam Sektor Kelapa Sawit di Indonesia dan Malaysia.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan FGV, Encik Nazrul Izam Mansor berkata, “FGV komited dalam memainkan peranan bagi menangani isu buruh paksa dan buruh kanak-kanak. FGV percaya isu ini amat penting dan memerlukan fokus dan komitmen jangka masa panjang. Kami tahu isu ini memerlukan kerjasama bersepadu daripada semua pihak yang berkaitan termasuk entiti perniagaan, agensi kerajaan dan organisasi sivil.”

Menurut beliau, sesi ini adalah sebahagian daripada pelbagai program dan inisiatif FGV bagi menambah baik amalan buruh dalam operasinya dan untuk menegakkan piawaian buruh. Ini merupakan satu perkara utama dalam komitmen FGV terhadap agenda kelestarian dan hak asasi manusia.

Encik Nazrul Izam Mansor ketika sedang berucap di Sesi Kesedaran Buruh Paksa dan Buruh Kanak-Kanak. 

Setiausaha Agung MTUC, Encik Kamarul Baharin Mansor berkata, “Pembasmian buruh paksa dan buruh kanak-kanak, hanya boleh dicapai jika terdapat kesedaran dan pemahaman yang mencukupi tentang isu tersebut di kalangan semua pihak terutamanya pekerja, kanak-kanak, ibu bapa dan agensi penguatkuasaan.”

Menurut beliau, dengan adanya kesedaran, pekerja dan kanak-kanak akan berada dalam kedudukan yang lebih baik bagi melindungi diri mereka daripada menjadi mangsa buruh paksa atau buruh kanak-kanak.

Dari kiri: Encik Kamarul Baharin Mansor, Setiausaha Agung MTUC bersama Encik Nazrul Izam Mansor, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan FGV. 

Sesi interaktif tersebut yang dihadiri oleh pekerja migran dari Bangladesh, India dan Indonesia diadakan dalam bahasa Bengali, Hindi dan Bahasa Malaysia bagi memberikan pemahaman yang lebih baik. Sesi itu memfokuskan kepada 11 Petunjuk ILO mengenai Buruh Paksa dan langkah-langkah untuk mencegah dan menangani buruh kanak-kanak.

Encik Josh Hong daripada ILO Malaysia menekankan kepentingan kebebasan berpersatuan dan perundingan kolektif sebagai salah satu kaedah untuk memperkasakan pekerja. Beliau juga menyatakan sokongan berterusan ILO terhadap kerjasama rentas sektor bagi menamatkan isu buruh paksa dan buruh kanak-kanak di Malaysia.

FGV, MTUC dan ILO Malaysia memperakui bahawa peningkatan kesedaran adalah salah satu daripada beberapa langkah yang perlu diambil bagi menangani isu buruh paksa dan buruh kanak-kanak secara berkesan, dan peningkatan kesedaran ini mestilah disertai dengan tindakan kolektif dalam aspek lain termasuk pembaharuan dasar dan undang-undang, advokasi dan penguatkuasaan.

FGV, MTUC dan ILO Malaysia mengulangi komitmen berterusan untuk memainkan peranan penting dalam usaha ini.

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