What distinguishes a headache resulting from health issues from one that stems from poisoning symptoms?
Could this illness be more than mere misfortune, potentially linked to the hazardous working conditions in oil palm plantations?
What actions should we take if these perilous working conditions are posing a risk to the health and safety of our children and grandchildren in the years to come?
The palm oil industry presents challenging 3D working conditions: Dirty, Dangerous, and Demanding. Workers are often employed under flexible contracts that limit the company’s responsibility for their health. They face various hazards, including biological (wildlife, pests), physical (heavy machinery), and chemical (herbicides, pesticides). Additionally, the power imbalance between workers and companies can lead to intimidation and increased risks to their safety.
The palm oil workers faced a significant dilemma. How can the fertilizer workers, who are mostly casual laborers, maintain their health and safety while sowing 600 kilograms (15–16 sacks) for seven hours while wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) made of cheap, hot latex? In addition to this discomfort, they also contend with the physical challenges of the plantation, including peaty soil, slippery footbridges, unfenced ditches, and the risk of animal attacks. Moreover, how can they consider the long-term health risks, such as internal organ disease and cancer, when access to public health services provided by both the company and the government in the plantation area is severely limited?
Similar to the challenges faced by fertiliser workers, 16 male and female oil palm workers in the agrochemicals department are suffering from poor working conditions and health issues. They are caught in the palm oil industry’s focus on monoculture productivity, neglecting the importance of social responsibility for reproductive health. The expectation that workers should maintain their health without support is problematic, as is the fragmentation of state social security, which leads to declining health services.
As a result, health problems and workplace accidents are individualized, with little systematic intervention. These issues are exacerbated by weak state oversight, the global market’s failure to recognize workers’ roles in sustainable palm oil production, and the inconsistent effectiveness of plantation trade unions.
This research examines the challenges faced by agrochemical workers, focusing on the conflict between monoculture practices and the health of palm oil workers. Conducted between 2021 and 2022, the study utilized participatory action research methods with two trade unions in Ketapang and Sambas, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, as well as in Bagan Serai, Sungai Siput, and Batang Berjuntai in Malaysia.
The study is divided into five sections: methodology, framework, hazardous work processes, concealed illness data (termed ‘creeping in silence’), and conclusions with recommendations. It discusses flexible labor relations and the structure of hazardous work on plantations, highlighting workers’ struggles for their rights to safety and health.
The aim of this research is to help readers understand the working conditions of palm oil workers. While OSH regulations can sometimes be restrictive, limiting workers through inadequate guidelines and structural challenges, they can also empower workers to advocate for improved welfare through strong social organization and capacity building.
Join the conversation on OSH issues in oil palm plantations. Download the full report on “Creeping in Silence” here:
In solidarity,
TPOLS Secretariat