Palm Oil and Human Rights
Though not all palm oil plantations utilize strategies such as child labour and unsafe working conditions, many have and continue to do today.
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Life on Palm Plantations
The vast majority of palm oil plantations are located in Indonesian and Malaysian forests - and with such a high demand for this oil, lowly paid workers are necessary to continue producing mass quantities. Imagine wading through forests in insufferable heat, carrying and slicing heavy, spiky fruit for little pay - as low as two dollars - day after day after day. Many are forced to work seven days a week for twelve hours a day to earn less than minimum wage.
Child labour is also a big thing on plantations - mostly due to workers being unable to meet quotas, and children helping by collecting fruit. This prevents many from improving their lives, due to a lack of time for education.
Injuries also abound, due to carrying extremely heavy loads and working in chemical-ridden environments.
Displacement in Indonesia and Malaysia
In addition to being in direct violating of human labour laws, many people living in forests have been forcibly removed by palm oil plantations responsible for thousands of land conflicts. The Indigenous population has felt this very heavily, being forced to move from land that they've lived upon for generations.
