Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (April 26): Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) on Tuesday (April 26) submitted a comprehensive report to the US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) over forced labour claims against the planter.

In a bourse filing, SDP said the report included a detailed assessment of its Malaysian operations mapped against each of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) forced labour indicators; an in-depth description of improved governance structures and management systems; copies of policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures; details of facilities at SDP's operating units; corresponding supporting evidence; and independent reports from third party consultants appointed by SDP to assess various aspects of its operations.

It said the aim of the report is to demonstrate SDP’s full compliance with the US import regulations and international labour standards, and that the company has internal controls and systems in place to protect the rights of its workers and ensure their well-being whilst addressing and removing the existence of any possible indicators of forced labour.

It said SDP will give its full co-operation and continue to engage with the USCBP to modify the finding.

It also said the company will release an announcement to Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd on any material development on the matter on a timely basis as required by the Main Market Listing Requirements of Bursa Securities.

USCBP had on Dec 30, 2020 issued the withhold release order (WRO) to SDP and subsequently issued the findings on Jan 28 this year against palm oil and palm oil products made by SDP and its subsidiaries and joint ventures at SDP’s Malaysian operations, saying its certain palm oil products are produced using convict, forced or indentured labour.

SDP closed nine sen or 1.69% lower to RM5.25 on Tuesday, valuing the group at RM36.93 billion.

Year to date, the counter has gained 36.72%.

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