Online-Diskussion: "Pathways to a Just Transition in the Palm Oil Industry"

DISCUSSION INVITATION

"Pathways to a Just Transition in the Palm Oil Industry"

Dear Sir/Madam, Fellow Network colleagues

Respectfully,

The issue of palm oil labor has yet become an important issue for the monitoring of the industry's supply chain. NGO's, activist and parties in this industry are more focused on environmental issues, meanwhile matters related to poverty and injustice experienced by the plantation workers tend to be forgotten. It is necessary to find a common ground between the labor movement, environmental movement, and local/indigenous communities. A just transition is seen as a way to reconcile this interests.

In general, a Just Transition signifies a comprehensive and flexible approach to help negatively impacted workers when facing the cost of climate change and transformation to a green economy. Supporting a Just Transition means demanding fair compensation for workers and communities who bears the negative impact such as economic and health losses.

So far, a Just Transition perspective has yet to be developed by labor unions in the palm oil industry. In regards to this, Sawit Watch together with the Transnational Palm Oil Workers Solidarity (TPOLS) Network, will hold an "International Conference: Just Transition in the Palm Oil Industry" which aims to encourage alternatives to the establishment of current palm oil industry which has been putting communities in marginalized position through discussing theoretical foundations and practical strategies needed to carry out transformation towards a palm oil industry that is socially and ecologically just.

In moving with this agenda, we are holding a series of discussion on "Just Transition in the Palm Oil Industry: Pathways to a Just Transition in the Palm Oil Industry" which will take place on:

Date: Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Time: 14.00 - 17.00 GMT+7 Jakarta Time (> German Time: 9.00-12.00 am) 

Format: ZOOM (Meeting ID : 850 7879 3614, Password : 503843)

Present as speakers are:

• Dianto Arifin, SEPASI “Environmental Health & Normative Rights“
• Ram Wangkheirakpam, Coordinator Programs Indigenous Perspectives “Laborers Conditions and Social Ecological Changes in Palm Oil Plantation Investment Areas”
• Prof. Dr. Ir. Suria Darma Tarigan MSc., IPB University "Challenges of Socio-Ecological Transformation in Palm Oil Industry's Upstream"
• Michaela Haug, Professor for Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Freiburg “Mosaic Landscape as a Transformation of Palm Oil Industry“
• Rio Rompas, Greenpeace “Green Job” in Palm Oil Industry“
• International Labour Organization (ILO)* “Labour Perspective on Just Transition : Job Security and Environmental Justice” (*to be confirmed)

For more information, please contact us through Aisha/Sawit Watch

(WhatsApp/Email: +62 877 2020 0023/aisha@sawitwatch.or.id)

14.00 - 17.00