Can a Labour-Climate Alliance Transform the Palm Oil Sector?
This issue was raised at a public event titled “Building Solidarity for a Just Transition”, which took place in Bern, Switzerland, on December 3-4, 2024. Representatives of international trade unions and climate justice movements attended the event. Following the event, SOLIDAR, a European network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) with a global reach, launched a worldwide campaign on the topic, “Unseen Realities of Palm Oil: Why Social Justice Must Start With Workers.” The campaign materials are republished here for educational purposes and to foster solidarity.
Why Social Justice must start with workers and local communities
Sukristiana from Serikat Pekerja Sawit Indonesia (SEPASI) in Indonesia reports on the poor working conditions of women workers on palm oil plantations who come together to demand their legal rights, such as maternity leave. One of their key demands is that workers must have the freedom of association, allowing them to unite and support one another.
Rita from the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria reminds that deforestation is one of the major contributors to biodiversity loss. Her work includes making public and emphasising the historical violations of human rights and land rights across Africa, caused by the operations of multinational corporations, to stop their expansion. Her organisation also works to promote people’s sovereignty over land and protect the lives and rights of indigenous peoples and local communities who depend on land, forest, and water for their survival.
Uli from WALHI – Friends of the Earth Indonesia is worried about the massive impact of palm oil monoculture plantations in Indonesia, which have been proven to create environmental destruction, land grabbing, and human rights violations. In addition, it has greatly contributed to the climate crisis. WALHI in Indonesia wants to emphasise the need for stronger regulations to protect human rights, the environment, and nature. They see the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) as one of the policies that can be used to reduce corporate violations and ensure that it restores community lands.
Samwar from the Green Advocates International in Liberia talks about his experience working against multinational companies in Liberia operating in palm oil and rubber plantations. To maximise their profits, they force people from their indigenous land, plant palm oil or rubber, and abandon the communities without meeting any corporate social responsibilities, leaving behind communities deprived of their indigenous lands and without any means to farm or make a living in other ways.
Aisha from Sawit Watch in Indonesia shares the vision of the movement for just transition in the palm oil industry, promoting an alternative palm oil production that prioritises socio-ecological justice. In its work, Sawit Watch emphasises the importance of organising movements, alliance building, and solidarity within the supply chain internationally and across the communities to express their demands and put pressure on the industry.