SIME Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) has denied claims by a Hong Kong-based anti-trafficking group Liberty Shared that the oil palm giant had allegedly practiced, among others, forced and child labour at its estates.
SDP said in a statement today that the petition, filed with the US Customs and Border Protection on April 20, was submitted “without soliciting any feedback from our company”.
The group also said while it was “concerned over the serious allegations”, it only had access to the petition summary that is publicly available on the Liberty Shared website.
“Currently, SDP has access only to the petition summary which provides issues that were raised, without any details on the interviews that were conducted.
“In the spirit of openness, transparency and collaboration that SDP has always upheld, we intend to engage with Liberty Shared to further understand these allegations in detail to enable us to conduct a thorough and immediate investigation, and take corrective action, as the findings may warrant,” the group added.
Liberty Shared is demanding a ban on “palm oil and palm oil products produced wholly or in part by forced labour and child labour by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) owned and affiliated companies”.
SDP’s share price opened 1.21% higher at RM5.02. – July 8, 2020
