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FGV Showcases Sustainability Efforts
- Asia Palm Oil Magazine
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV) recently welcomed a high-level delegation of around 40 participants from the sixth ASEAN-European Union (EU) Policy Dialogue on Human Rights to its Krau Complex in Pahang, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to responsible business practices, human rights protection and sustainable palm oil production.
The visit formed part of the ASEAN-EU Side Event on Intensifying Actions and Overcoming Barriers in Implementing Business, Human Rights, and Environment in ASEAN and the EU, jointly organised by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the EU.
The initiative aims to foster stronger regional cooperation in advancing inclusivity, sustainability and human rights across Southeast Asia and Europe.
The delegation included key representatives from ASEAN, the EU, government agencies, academia, and civil society.
Key figures included Edmund Bon Tai Soon, chair of AICHR and Malaysia's representative to AICHR; Kajsa Ollongren, EU special representative for human rights; Datuk Astanah Abdul Aziz, ASEAN deputy secretary-general for the political-security community; and Rafael Daerr, EU ambassador to Malaysia, alongside AICHR representatives from Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam.Also present were Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, director-general Datuk Dr Suzana Idayu Wati Osman, and FGV group chief executive officer Datuk Fakhrunniam Othman, as well as board members and senior management from Felda and FGV.
"We are honoured to host this delegation and hope the visit provides a practical perspective on how we do business at FGV, where we translate human rights principles into meaningful action.
Safeguarding the well-being of our people and respecting the rights of local communities are not only integral moral imperatives in FGV, but they're also essential foundations for sustainable business success, as enshrined in our Group Sustainability Framework," said Fakhrunniam.
During the visit, FGV chief sustainability officer Nurul Hasanah Ahamed Hassain Malim presented an overview of the group's sustainability and human rights initiatives.
Delegates were taken on a site tour of workers' housing and welfare facilities, where they interacted with independently elected migrant workers' representatives to better understand FGV's approach to fair labour practices, worker engagement, and welfare enhancement.
FGV showcased several concrete measures that underpin its sustainability agenda, including stringent due diligence in migrant recruitment, a firm no recruitment fee policy to prevent worker exploitation, continuous upgrades to workers' housing, amenities, and living standards, as well as a strengthened third-party grievance channel designed to enhance transparency and accountability.
FGV's Group Sustainability Policy, first introduced in 2016, is built upon three key pillars — promoting inclusive economic growth, respecting human rights, and protecting the environment — and aligns with global benchmarks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
In 2023, FGV advanced this agenda with the rollout of an enhanced Five-Pillar Sustainability Framework, expanding its focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities to strengthen ethical and responsible business practices across its supply chain.
"We see great value in collaboration and partnership. By engaging directly with key stakeholders and regulators, we can better understand expectations, anticipate change and strengthen our practices to meet global standards."
The visit concluded with a reaffirmation of FGV's dedication to embedding human rights, inclusivity, and sustainability across its value chain — empowering smallholders, uplifting local communities, and contributing to Malaysia's broader sustainability agenda, in line with the theme of Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025: 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'.
Source: www.nst.com.my
