Sawit Kinabalu Tackles Child Labour Through Education and Welfare Programmes

Sawit Kinabalu Group sustainability general manager Nazlan Mohamad said the state-owned company has established 28 Community Learning Centres (CLCs) across Sabah to address barriers to education among children of plantation workers. — PIC BY SAWIT KINABALU

Although Sawit Kinabalu's core business is palm oil production, the company places significant emphasis on protecting and nurturing the education and welfare of children living within and around its plantations.

This commitment is demonstrated through a range of targeted programmes aimed at preventing child labour and promoting access to education.

Sawit Kinabalu Group sustainability general manager Nazlan Mohamad said the state-owned company has established 28 Community Learning Centres (CLCs) across Sabah to address barriers to education among children of plantation workers.

Six of them are located in Tawau, seven in Lahad Datu, six in Sandakan, four in Kudat, and five in Beaufort.

"To ensure better access to education, Sawit Kinabalu builds and maintains CLCs within our estates, reducing travel difficulties and costs for families.

"We also provide early childhood education centres and operate transportation services to safely shuttle children from workers' housing to nearby schools," Nazlan told the New Straits Times.

These measures are designed not only to facilitate learning but also to prevent children from accompanying their parents to work sites, where they may be exposed to hazardous conditions.

Beyond education, Sawit Kinabalu invests in health services, operating clinics within plantation areas that offer maternal and child healthcare, including vaccinations and routine check-ups, to support overall child development and well-being.

The company also undertakes extensive awareness programmes targeting workers and their families, focusing on the risks of child labour, the importance of education for long-term personal and community development, and the legal repercussions of involving children in work.

"We conduct parental training sessions to discourage the common practice of children 'helping out' on plantations, which often leads to them performing tasks beyond their capability and legal limits."

To enhance monitoring and enforcement, Sawit Kinabalu has formed community monitoring groups comprising workers, local leaders and educators, who identify and report potential cases of child labour.

The company also provides anonymous reporting channels to encourage confidential disclosures without fear of retaliation.

In Sabah, there are approximately 2.1 million workers, including a significant number of non-resident employees.

In 2023, there were 796,900 registered PBPs in Sabah, employed by 37,646 companies.

Indonesians comprised the majority at 90.2 per cent, followed by Filipinos at 7.9 per cent, with smaller groups from Nepal and Cambodia.

Agriculture, particularly oil palm plantations, is among Sabah's largest employment sectors, with around 591,800 workers. Of these, 58 per cent (roughly 344,700) are non-citizens, many of whom work in the oil palm industry.

Children of non-resident employees typically face challenges accessing education due to insufficient documentation, affordability issues, and the distance from the nearest schools.

Tuai Cerita is a fellowship designed to amplify the voices of Sabah's most vulnerable children.

Through the power of storytelling and ethical journalism, the programme shines a light on child rights deprivations that contribute to child labour in and around oil palm plantations in Sabah.

The programme is driven by local partners Anak and Global Shepherds, and implemented by Project Liber8.

It is conducted in partnership with the European Union, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and Unicef.

Source: www.nst.com.my