The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has recently awarded $5 million in grant funds to help combat forced labor and child labor in the Malaysian palm oil and garment industries.
The funds are going to Social Accountability International (SAI), a global, non-profit organization that focuses on protecting human rights in the workplace, the company’s website said. Administered by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), the funding will go towards several initiatives in Malaysia to enforce labor standards, a DOL press release said.
“This cooperative agreement is part of ILAB’s continued work to reduce and prevent forced labor and child labor abuses in the world’s supply chains. Labor violations such as those in Malaysia’s palm oil and garment industries are included in ILAB’s global list of goods produced with child labor or forced labor,” DOL said in the release.
During the project, SAI will provide legal aid to exploited workers and children, work with civil organizations and affected employees to address labor abuses, and create tools to keep companies accountable and in compliance, the release said.
SAI will also “help workers gain information and communicate about working conditions, and increase their ability to advocate for their rights,” the release said. The organization will share with palm oil and garment businesses best practices developed through the project.
Malaysia is the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, but much of its output comes at a high cost at some plantations that force adults into debt bondage and children to work illegally, the release said. At some plantations, workers are at risk of being exposed to hazardous chemicals during production.
