We keep a close watch for indicators of forced labour. We monitor through on-going engagements with our workers as well as our established grievance mechanisms that help us respond to risks of forced labour in our operations and supply chain. In addition, we have developed a handbook to raise understanding among site-level management personnel on practices that could be linked to the ILO Indicators of Forced Labour. From the workers’ welfare perspective, a Foreign Workers Working Committee chaired by the Chairman was formed in November 2020 to focus on continuous improvements to on-the-ground infrastructure that will further strengthen our labour practices. These include further upgrading of workers’ housing for which a sum of RM10.8 million was invested for 25 blocks of new workers’ housing, this is on top of the RM350 million invested to construct 319 blocks over the past three years. The investment was expanded, amongst others to refurbish the older housing in 165 plantations and upgrading equipment to ensure uninterrupted electricity and water supply, particularly in areas that do not have access to the national power grid and state-provided water supply. This effort is aligned to the Government’s regulations on minimum standards for workers’ housing to address congested living conditions cited as one of the causes of high number of COVID-19 cases among migrant workers in the country. Other infrastructure improvement covered improving access to healthcare by establishing clinics in remote areas. In addition to contributing to the overall good health and well-being of the workforce at our plantations, these remote clinics have proven to be crucial in addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workforce at our plantations. Being an essential component in the food chain, it is imperative that we continue operating to contribute to food security, hence the health of our workforce takes on an even higher priority in during pandemic times. Working with a local human rights NGO, FGV had initiated a human rights capacity building programme with workers in the plantation. In collaboration with the NGO, a human rights training module for plantation workers had been developed. FGV had selected several sites for the pilot training. A virtual training for managers of the plantations was conducted in Nov 2021. However, due to restrictions following the pandemic, the face-to-face pilot training with workers had been postponed to 2022. Workers will be trained on human rights and labour standards topics such as freedom of association and collective bargaining, grievance mechanism, freedom of movement and forced labour. In 2021, FGV participated in a Workers Wellbeing Consultation Project, which was carried out by Embode, a specialist independent consultancy in human rights. Embode has now completed their engagement with FGV’s migrant workers at several of its estates, and is in the process of producing a report of their findings. The objectives of this project, which was commissioned and funded by P&G Chemicals, include: Workers’ Perspective To gather from the workers their views, needs and perspectives of working and living experiences on palm oil plantations Workers’ Wellbeing To examine migrant workers’ wellbeing and determine whether they are satisfied with their present conditions Prioritisation of Needs To prioritise migrant workers’ needs and desires with regard to their wellbeing i ii iii Respecting Human Rights 80 FGV HOLDINGS BERHAD RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS ABOUT THIS REPORT RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS
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