The people behind the Just Transition to a different kind of palm oil production

A new vision of palm oil production is emerging in Indonesia and beyond.

In the 21^st century, the palm oil industry is still a hot spot for ecological and social misconduct. Large-scale plantations often rely on the exploitation of precarious, low-paid workers and lead to the devastation of vital forests and water resources. 

Labour, land rights and environmental justice activists came together to change the status quo and create a vision and a strategy towards a different kind of palm oil production – one which is both socially and ecologically just and sustainable.

Learning from the Just Transition initiatives developed by trade unions and the wider labour movement in response to the climate emergency, a new coalition for Just Transition in the Palm Oil Industry is emerging in and beyond Indonesia.
 
In December 2024, a delegation of Indonesian, Malaysian trade unionists and environmental activists from Nigeria and Liberia came to Brussels to meet European Institutions, share their experiences and present insights and perspectives from their ongoing work. Watch their testimonies and learn about their main challenges and strategies to tackle them.

Meet Uli from WALHI – Friends of the Earth Indonesia 

“A just transition is a path back to ecological justice.”

Uli is worried about the massive impact of palm oil monoculture plantation in Indonesia which has been proven to create environmental destruction, land grabbing and human rights violations. WALHI in Indonesia emphasizes the need for stronger regulations to protect human rights, and the environment.  They see the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) as one of the policies that can be used to reduce corporate violations and ensure that it restores community lands.

Meet Sukristiana from Serikat Pekerja Sawit (SEPASI) in Indonesia

“We want decent work with decent vages.”

Sukristiana reports on the poor working conditions of women workers on palm oil plantations who come together to demand their legal rights. One of their key demands – they want to see all workers become permanent workers and receive adequate facilities. Women workers do not even have the right for maternity leave at the moment.

Meet Aisha from Sawit Watch in Indonesia

“Just Transition reminds us again to think about an alternative to the current way of production. Finding common ground between groups is key to ensure the transformation doesn’t leave anyone behind.”

Aisha shared her vision of an alternative palm oil productionthat prioritizes socio ecological justice. In their work, Sawit Watch emphasizes the importance to organize movements, build alliances and solidarity within the supply chain internationally and across the communities. She stresses that the needs of workers and communities can’t be met without systemic changes.

Meet Rita from the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth in Nigeria

“A just transition in the oil palm sector must dismantle systems of oppression founded on patriarchy that strive for capitalism, colonialism, and widening inequalities at the detriment of people and our environment.”

Rita reminds us that deforestation is one of the major contributors to biodiversity loss. Her work also includes highlighting and exposing historical violations across Africa, caused by the operations of multinational corporations, with the aim of stopping their expansion. Her organisation also works to protect the life and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities who depend on land, forest and water for their survival.

Meet Samwar from the Green Advocates International in Liberia

“These are communal lands, so you can not remove the people (…) and make millions of dollars of profit and then leave them in poverty.”

Samwar talks about his experience working against multinational corporations in Liberia. Several of those corporations, forcefully remove people from their indigenous land, plant palm oil or rubber and abandon the communities without meeting any corporate social responsibilities. He also tells us about how they fight back in court, to declare the rights of the communities to their lands.

FoEE works towards environmental, social, economic and political justice and equal access to resources and opportunities on the local, national, regional and international levels. We support local communities to achieve just transition in the palm oil sector.