IPOWU meeting in Indonesia

This time it was Indonesia's turn. The trade union leaders participating in the International Palm Oil Workers United (IPOWU) solidarity network put their heads together in September to discuss the future. Mondiaal FNV policy officer and IPOWU coordinator Astrid Kaag reports.

IPOWU consists of trade unions in the palm oil sector from Indonesia, Ghana and Colombia, together with the FNV. The first meeting was held in the Netherlands in 2023. It was followed by a meeting in Colombia, and now it was Indonesia's turn. We met up at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, where the trade union delegations from Colombia and Ghana joined the FNV delegation for the flight to Indonesia. We were heading for the third meeting of the International Palm Oil Workers United network, abbreviated to IPOWU. It was a wonderful moment. Many had already met at previous gatherings and were happy to see one another again.

We discussed our activities and achievements to date, as well as plans for the coming five years. In addition, Koalisi Buruh Sawit (KBS), an Indonesian coalition of trade unions and NGOs, organized a public meeting in Jakarta and Pontianak (West Kalimantan). We also visited a plantation.

Joint progress

In Jakarta, we heard an address by the Minister of Labour, Mr Yassierli. Beforehand everyone stood up and sang the national anthem. The minister had a great deal of professional knowledge about health and safety and said that he had personally committed to their improvement over the past ten years. He outlined the challenges in the palm oil sector and expressed his desire to work together to achieve progress. "The trade unions are the 'extended arms' of the minister." The Indonesian unions considered the minister’s presence to be very positive and hoped that it would lead to contact and dialogue.

Pesticides

In 2024, IPOWU conducted research into the risks of using pesticides and other chemical products. We discussed what has meanwhile already been done in the four countries and our further steps. There is now much greater awareness of the risks, and we heard examples of concrete improvements on plantations, such as separate washing areas so that clothing is no longer taken home, as well as better protective equipment, etc. However, much more needs to be done, and the network will continue to work on improvements at all levels in the coming years, both in the producing countries and in the Netherlands. For example, substances that are now banned in the European Union (EU) are still being used elsewhere. A life in Europe is apparently worth more than a life in Indonesia, Colombia or Ghana. This has to stop, and the FNV will also campaign for this in the EU.

Wages

We also discussed the research into wages that is currently being conducted in the three countries – Indonesia, Ghana and Colombia. The results are not yet available, but we discussed the strategy for achieving better wages. During the week, there was also a meeting with RSPO, the sustainability label for palm oil. Almost all Dutch companies that process palm oil have a policy of using sustainable palm oil, and RSPO certification serves as a guideline for this. We heard from RSPO that they are working on a precise definition of a living wage. This must then be translated into a standard that can be verified by an auditor. Afterwards an action plan will be developed. It is a long process, and no concrete steps have been taken as of yet.

The discussion on how to calculate a living wage has been going on for at least ten years, and we know that wages are generally much lower than such a living wage, and often even below the minimum wage. If we want to see improvement, we should not count too much on the RSPO. Trade unions will have to negotiate with employers and their governments. A thorough study with sound data will be very useful in this regard. This will remain a priority for IPOWU in the coming years.

Future of the network

Support from the Dutch government will decline in the coming years. The network must act now to be able to operate independently in five years' time. The first steps have already been taken in this direction. For example, Mondiaal FNV is currently responsible for coordination, but this role will be transferred to one of the three other countries and then further rotated.

People’s work

Maintaining a network depends on funding, clear plans and a clear structure. But above all, it is people’s work, and solidarity. After three years, we are becoming increasingly well acquainted, and we know what we can expect from one another. We bridge the language barrier with translation apps on our phones and enjoy working together. It is enriching for all of us to be able to work with so many trade unionists. Together we are constantly learning about the entire chain and how we can bring about change. Here's to the next five years of cooperation!

Text Astrid Kaag