JAKARTA – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has been continually implementing a number of programs to maximize the contribution of palm oil toward reaching Indonesia Emas (Golden Indonesia) 2045. One of the programs is the cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the USA government to increase the sustainability of palm oil industries from the aspect of labor (decent work).
GAPKI’s Human Resources Development Division Head Sumardjono Saragih said that the collaboration should be maximized for the benefits of Indonesia. “This initiative will significantly contribute to national efforts of realizing Indonesia Emas 2045. It’s no exageration that oil palm plantations in vilages will become the key factor in realizing Golden Generation 2045,” he said in a written statement received by sawitindonesia.com.
He said that the initiative is called SCOPE SITALASARI as part of the program of Simalungun Marharoan Bolon. The word SITALASARI is inspired by the very popular song of Simalungun titled Sitalasari, which stands for “Simalungun Tanah Leluhur Sawit untuk Generasi” (Simalungun As Native Land of Oil Palm For Next Generations).
According to Sumardjono, through this program Simalungun regency will become a role model of oil palm plantations for Indonesia and the world. Oil palm plantations that protect, respect and develop human resources. Oil palm plantations without child labor, gender equality, decent work condition, awareness on occupational health and safety and social security.
“The European Union has been continually hindering or even can kill palm oil. We’ve seen their latest action through the EUDR, which rules oil palm cultivation without deforestation. But on the other side, the USA has continually supported and offered additional fund for program that has been started since 2016. The program is to increase sustainability of palm oil through the aspect of labor (decent work),” he said.
Under the new program, ILO has selected Simalungun regency as a global model of oil palm plantations. It should be noted that Simalungun (Marihat) is the native land of Indonesian oil palm trees. Simalungun is actually more popular than Marihat. But Marihat is part of Simalungun regency and once there was Marihat Research Center for oil palm (also tea and rubber). “It was the forerunner of the current PPKS (Palm Oil Research Center). A number of superior seeds produced by PPKS are called DXP Marihat and DXP Simalungun.
Carter Quinley of the USA Manpower Ministry said that the USA government has paid a serious attention to labor rights across the globe. “We’re looking for partners who can become leaders in improving labor condition. So, we cooperate with ILO that says that Indonesia and palm plantations are the leaders in the aspect of manpower,” he said. (*)
Source: sawitindonesia.com
