KUCHING: The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) welcomes the People’s Positive Palm Project (P3 Project) which aims to support companies in the palm oil sector to eliminate forced labour from their operations and supply chains.
Its minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof stated that Malaysia’s palm oil sector has been under scrutiny in recent years, in connection with its practices and respect for human rights.
He said this prompted many companies operating in the country to adopt innovative and responsible business practices.
“I would like to express my deep appreciation for the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), Human Rights Coalition (HRC), Fair Labour Association (FLA), and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for their vital role in implementing the People’s Positive Palm Project through the collective action that aims to eradicate forced labour from the Malaysian palm oil industry,” he said when launching the P3 Project in Kuala Lumpur today.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) should not be seen as a burden, but rather as an advantage for businesses to lead by example, enhance their resilience, and secure the exportability of their products globally and anticipate market disruptions in times of crisis.
“I hope the palm oil sector through a pragmatic business approach to HRDD will address root causes of forced labour in a sustainable and structural manner, and charting the right course from the outset is extremely important,” he added.
