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Disclosure

3 May 2024

Author:
RSPO Secretariat

Response from RSPO to allegations of labour abuse at member company FGV

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FGV Holding Berhard has several RSPO certified units, which are audited by various certification bodies (CBs). These allegations reported in the news, however, do not specify which units they are against. In the absence of such information, what we can share is that in 2015, following allegations of labour rights violations in a media report, the RSPO Complaints Panel asked the independent accreditation body, Accreditation Services International (ASI) to undertake a compliance audit on the Certification Bodies (CBs) involved, as well as an investigation audit on the units situated in the area linked to the findings in the report.

In 2022, the RSPO Assurance Team shared with the CBs the Complaints Panel’s Directive on Post-complaint Monitoring on FGV Holding Berhad. The directive specifies that all labour-related elements in the RSPO Principles and Criteria must be looked into by the CBs at each and every audit exercise. RSPO has also directed ASI, the accreditation body for certification bodies, to increase the number of Compliance Audits for the CBs involved in auditing FGV and to ensure the auditors involved are able to demonstrate sufficient experience in social indicators. The status of the case is transparently updated on the case tracker.

The 2018 RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C) requires that workers are informed about policies that protect workers’ rights and ensure safe and decent conditions. A grievance mechanism, which respects anonymity and protects complainants where requested, is established, implemented and communicated to all levels of the workforce (Criterion 6.5.4)...

The audit reports for all RSPO certified members are available on the RSPO website. Use the certified grower database...

RSPO encourages any individual or organisation with additional information about violation(s) of the RSPO Standards found on any RSPO Member plantations to submit a formal complaint through the Complaints System.

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