SIME Darby Plantation (SDP) today denied exploiting prisoners for forced labour on its plantations. 

The agricultural giant said it has always upheld the fundamental human rights of its prison workers, which it calls parolees.

“SDP does not tolerate any form of exploitation. Our commitment to human rights is anchored in our human rights charter (established since 2017),” it said in a statement today.

“We also strictly adhere to our code of business conduct in our day-to-day operations.”

Human rights groups have recently expressed concern about the employment of forced labour in the Prisons Department’s corporate smart internship programme held in collaboration with industry, including SDP.

SDP said the parolees were hired after they had formally consented to join its workforce, having gone though a selection process through the Prison Board and with the approval of the Parole Board.

“The hiring adhered strictly to all applicable labour laws.

“The parolees are provided with minimum wages according to the National Minimum Wage Order 2020 and the MAPA/NUPW Collective Bargaining Agreement 2019.

“The salaries are transferred directly to the parolees’ bank accounts.”

This is unlike the usual community service programmes on which the parolees are not paid for their work, as is the common practice locally and internationally, SDP said.

It said the parolees were given equal treatment as other workers in SDP.

They are provided with the same benefits of free housing, subsidised electricity, free potable water of up to 50 gallons every month, and work an eight-hour daily shift with optional overtime pay.

“Upon completion of their sentence, the parolees may have the option to extend their employment with SDP. This is subject to fair criteria like work performance and skills,” SDP added.

Eighty private companies in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors have participated in the CSI programme.

SDP said the programme helped parolees to have a better chance of rebuilding their lives as most former inmates find it difficult to assimilate into society with the stigma of jail.

“The programme assists parolees in reintegrating into society by equipping them with employable skills.”

SDP said it had participated in the CSI  programme since 2019, before there was a labour shortage issue due to the travel restrictions necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Malaysia has frozen the recruitment of new foreign workers to favour locals who have been laid off. The borders are also closed except to those travelling on essential work, official and diplomatic business.

“Even though the CSI programme does provide additional manpower at our operations, the availability of workforce from this section of the community is limited.”

SDP said the parolees were only tasked with general works such as field upkeep, weeding and manuring.

“The current labour shortage has set SDP back by almost 3,000 workers, especially harvesters.

“They (the parolees) are not tasked with harvesting works where we have acute shortages.”

Despite efforts to recruit locally, SDP said Malaysians had shown disinterest in working in the sector.

“While we continue to persuade unemployed locals to join the plantation industry, recruiting foreign workers, especially for harvesting work, remains the main practical solution at this point.”

The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) yesterday dismissed suggestions that the employment of prisoners on oil palm plantations would lead to institutionalised forced labour.

MPOA CEO Nageeb Wahab said the scheme, if done right, could bring more benefit than harm.

He was responding to the allegations of labour rights advocates, published by UK newspaper The Guardian, that Malaysia’s scheme to employ prisoners on palm oil estates could constitute “institutionalised forced labour”. – September 24, 2020.