Throughout August to mid-September 2025, in parallel to continuing its agenda of learning exchanges and developing local and international alliances, the TPOLS Network also responded to issues that were emerging in Indonesia, particularly the people’s protests against the injustice of the elite and the political system, as well as the brutality and criminalization of protesters by the combined forces of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the Indonesian National Police (TNI-Polri) at the end of August 2025. At least three main forms of activities were identified by the TPOLS Secretariat, namely: (1) Learning exchanges and strengthening local and international alliances; (2) Campaigns and strengthening international solidarity; and (3) Open Donation (children’s books and toys) and development of learning materials.
Learning Exchanges and Strengthening Local and International Alliances
- Learning Exchanges and Strengthening Local Alliances
On August 21-24, 2025, the TPOLS Secretariat participated in an educational agenda related to basic labor rights for members and organizers of Serikat Pekerja Sawit Indonesia (SEPASI) of PT. Kruing Indah Utama (KIU), owned by PT. Makin Group in Central Kalimantan. This educational agenda was also attended by the union organizer from the Serikat Buruh Kerakyatan (SERBUK) West Kalimantan and Sawit Watch (SW). In addition to exchanging knowledge on labor issues, this agenda also aimed to build a cross-regional alliance (Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan) to study and advocate for labor issues jointly.
In parallel to the exchange agenda that has already been carried out, the TPOLS Secretariat is also involved online in the design and preparation of exchange agendas and the strengthening of local alliances in Riau and Central Sulawesi, which will be held at the end of September 2025.
The learning exchange agenda in Riau has been jointly designed and prepared by Federasi Serikat Pekerja Industri Perkebunan Sawit Indonesia (FSP IPSI), Litoral Indonesia, SW, and the TPOLS Secretariat. The planned learning collaboration agenda includes: (1) activities to examine water issues together with workers and local communities around the plantation; and (2) education on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issues for FSP IPSI members and organizers.
The learning exchange agenda in Central Sulawesi has been jointly designed and prepared by the Buol Plasma Farmers Forum (FPPB), Jaga Deca, AGRA, LIPS, and the TPOLS Secretariat. This collaborative learning agenda, which focuses on examining the problems faced by contract farming communities, invites representatives from contract farming communities in seven districts of Central Sulawesi and Kalimantan. In addition to learning exchanges, this agenda also aims to build cross-regional local alliances to advocate for the issues faced by contract farming communities.
- Learning Exchanges and Strengthening International Alliances
After information about the advocacy for the draft legislation compiled by Jawatankuasa Sokongan Masyarakat Ladang (JSML), called the Estate Workers Housing Scheme Act, was enthusiastically discussed in the TPOLS WhatsApp group, the TPOLS Secretariat held a public discussion on the topic “Why do workers need housing secured more than members of Parliament?”, with speakers from Malaysia and Indonesia (JSML, KPBI and Serbuk Kalimantan Barat) who shared their experiences in advocating for workers’ rights related to housing security, shared spaces and a decent living environment for workers’ households, in a Zoom meeting on September 6, 2025. This public discussion also aimed to respond to and express solidarity towards the mass protests in Indonesia against the fantastic allowances received by members of the Parliament, while the struggle of workers to demand housing security, facilities, and a decent living environment is continuously ignored by the political elites.
Public Discussion: “Why do workers need housing secured more than members of Parliament?” Zoom meeting, September 6, 2025
In August 2025, the TPOLS Secretariat also explored the potential for learning exchanges with the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT), a movement of landless peasants and workers in southern Thailand who are fighting for collective land ownership to be managed jointly. On September 10, 2025, the TPOLS Secretariat, SW, GRAIN, and SPFT held an introductory discussion via Zoom to explore the development of a learning exchange agenda within the TPOLS Network, especially related to the organization of peasants and workers, collective land use governance, and the strengthening of alliances.
Campaigns and Strengthening International Solidarity
Mass protests against high allowances for members of the House of Representatives also attracted significant attention from the TPOLS Network, especially after the escalation of brutal actions and criminalization by joint TNI-Polri forces against protesters, which not only resulted in fatalities but also led to the arrest and hospitalization of many protesters. The TPOLS Network released a joint statement titled “Call for International Solidarity to End State Violence and Brutality” on August 30, 2025. Various international organizations from different continents expressed their solidarity. In the meantime, the TPOLS Network also shared solidarity in various forms, such as organization statements, videos, and posters, in the TPOLS WhatsApp group.
In addition, the TPOLS Network is also planning a series of campaigns for the “International Day of Struggle Against Monoculture Plantations” on September 21, 2025, which will be followed by the commemoration of “National Peasant Day” in Indonesia on September 24, 2025. The planned series of national and international campaigns has attracted the attention of several organizations in the TPOLS Network because of its relevance to the issues they face, from the phase of community land grabbing, the phase of production that exploits and harms contract workers and farmers, to the phase of ecosystem destruction and community marginalization. This series of campaigns is also a response to the widespread food crises accompanying the increasing commodification of lands and foods around the world.
Open Donation (Children’s Books and Toys) and Development of Learning Materials
Since early August 2025, the TPOLS Secretariat has launched an “Open Donation of Children’s Books and Toys” program. Various types of educational books and toys have been collected, which will be distributed to the TPOLS network in various palm oil plantation locations, such as Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, North Sumatra, South Sumatra, Riau, and Papua. Due to the high demand within the TPOLS network, this Open Donation will remain open for an extended period.
In addition, the TPOLS Secretariat also facilitates the development of learning materials that are relevant to the issues experienced in the TPOLS Network, such as the translation of the booklet “Promise, Divide, Intimidate, and Coerce: Tactics Palm Oil Companies Use to Grab Community Lands,“ and the production of the short video “Sembilan Alasan Menolak Pertanian Kontrak (Kemitraan Plasma) dengan Perusahaan Sawit.” Both of these learning materials are the result of lessons learned by the TPOLS Network in various countries. The TPOLS Secretariat also encourages the TPOLS network to identify and organize the development of needed learning materials.
The Indonesian version of the booklet: "Promise, Divide, Intimidate, and Coerce: Tactics Palm Oil Companies Use to Grab Community Lands“