Kota Kinabalu, Jan 30 — Sabah took a step forward in promoting responsible and sustainable palm oil production today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Earthworm Foundation and the Sabah Jurisdictional Approach for Sustainable Palm Oil (JASPO), aimed at strengthening ethical recruitment practices across the state’s palm oil sector.
The collaboration will focus on supporting smallholders and medium-sized producers to improve labour recruitment processes in line with international labour standards, while remaining practical and responsive to local realities. The initiative aligns with the Sabah State Government’s broader push for inclusive and responsible palm oil development, particularly in a state that relies heavily on migrant workers in labour-intensive industries.
Chairman of the JASPO Board of Directors Datuk Darrel Webber said ethical recruitment is a key pillar of Sabah’s sustainability agenda. “This partnership reflects our commitment to strengthening labour practices in a way that is responsible, practical, and aligned with international standards, while recognising the realities faced by businesses on the ground,” he said.
Earthworm Foundation, which has been working on ethical recruitment in Malaysia since 2019, will bring its field experience and research insights to the collaboration. Malaysia Country Representative Kiah Hui Ooi said the partnership aims to translate international standards into guidance that companies can realistically implement. “By combining field experience, stakeholder perspectives, and policy alignment, we hope to strengthen responsible recruitment practices across Sabah’s palm oil sector,” she said.
The signing was attended by members of the Sabah JCSC Labour Working Group, as well as representatives from the Sabah State Home Affairs and Research Office and the Immigration Department of Malaysia (Sabah State), underscoring growing multi-stakeholder support for improving labour practices in the state.
Comments
Post a Comment