PRESS RELEASE AND STATEMENT BY THE FEDERATION OF PALM OIL PLANTATION WORKERS UNION OF WEST KALIMANTAN (FSBKS)

04 May PRESS RELEASE AND STATEMENT BY THE FEDERATION OF PALM OIL PLANTATION WORKERS UNION OF WEST KALIMANTAN (FSBKS)

REGARDING THE FAILURE TO FULFILL THE HEALTH RIGHTS OF WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT PT. ADITYA AGROINDO

Palm Oil Worker’s Child Dies After Being Neglected by Company: PT. Aditya Agroindo, Simpang Hulu Sub-district, Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan

A Humanitarian Crime at PT. Aditya Agroindo
A 3-year-old girl named Safira Talelu passed away on her way to the hospital in Pontianak on May 2, 2025, at 23:23 WIB. Safira was the daughter of Yohanes Talelu, a casual/daily laborer (BHL) working in the maintenance division at PT. Aditya Agroindo, a palm oil plantation company and a member of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) in West Kalimantan. Mr. Yohanes Talelu’s identity documents were reportedly withheld by the company management and were declared missing when he tried to obtain a referral for hospital treatment.

Safira had experienced severe seizures and was initially taken to the company clinic. The plantation doctor referred her to Balai Bekuak Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in Simpang Hulu, which in turn recommended referral to a hospital in Pontianak. However, due to the family’s lack of health insurance (BPJS) and financial means to cover transportation and treatment costs, the referral could not be carried out. Mr. Yohanes returned with Safira to the plantation clinic. Despite direct requests from the clinic doctor and union leaders to the management for financial assistance with the referral, PT. Aditya Agroindo management refused to help.

As a last resort, Safira was treated at the clinic, which had extremely limited facilities. Eventually, based on a renewed referral from the clinic doctor and with the consent of the family, union leaders brought Safira to the hospital in Pontianak, fully funded by the Federation and union members. Around 23:30 WIB, the union officer accompanying them reported via WhatsApp that Safira had passed away.

A Cruel Act and a Violation of Human Rights
This tragedy reveals the complete failure of the company to uphold the basic rights of its workers and their families. The fact that a child died because her family could not afford medical care, and the company refused to help, constitutes a humanitarian crime and a violation of human rights. As a GAPKI member, PT. Aditya Agroindo claims to uphold sustainability and corporate social responsibility principles. This case clearly exposes the gap between such claims and on-the-ground reality.

PT. Aditya Agroindo is strongly suspected of violating several laws, including:

• Law No. 24 of 2011 on Social Security Agency (BPJS), Article 55: Violation of BPJS contributions is punishable by up to 8 years in prison or a fine of up to IDR 1 billion.
• Law No. 27 of 2022 on Personal Data Protection, Articles 63 and 67: Unlawful acquisition or misuse of personal data is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to IDR 5 billion.
• Law No. 19 of 1999 ratifying ILO Convention No. 105 on the Abolition of Forced Labor.
• 1945 Constitution, Article 27(2): Every citizen has the right to employment and a decent livelihood.
• Labor Law No. 13 of 2003, Freedom of Association Law No. 21 of 2000, Investment Law No. 25 of 2007, and other laws governing palm oil plantations and labor rights.

Our Demands
The Federation of Palm Oil Plantation Workers’ Union (FSBKS) of West Kalimantan urges and demands:

1. The Provincial Manpower and Transmigration Office of West Kalimantan to investigate labor-related criminal offenses and ensure that all workers at PT. Aditya Agroindo Group KPU with over three years of service be appointed as permanent employees, with no more intimidation against workers and union officials. This process must be open, transparent, participatory, and officially documented.
2. The Regent of Ketapang to take firm and just action regarding the suspected violations of laws and regulations that have undermined humanity and justice, especially against workers and Indigenous communities at PT. Aditya Agroindo Group KPU.
3. The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) to revoke the membership of PT. Aditya Agroindo (a subsidiary of Kalimantan Plantation Unit/KPU) and audit all members suspected of violating labor-related laws.
4. All Buyers of FFB and/or CPO from PT. Aditya Agroindo and KPU subsidiaries (including Fuji Oil, P&G, Yum! Brands, KAO, Cargill, BASF, Stearinerie BUBOIS, General Mills, HERSHEY, LDC, Neste) to carry out independent investigations and audits, and to temporarily suspend purchases.
5. The central and local governments, buyers, BPJS, police, National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), and legislative bodies to monitor and evaluate companies to ensure full compliance with workers’ rights, particularly in the palm oil plantation sector. We do not want this tragedy to happen again.

The death of Safira Talelu is a painful reminder of the weak protection and poor enforcement of workers’ rights in the palm oil industry. It also reflects the failure of monitoring, auditing, and law enforcement, not only by the company but also by buyers who fail to verify the origin of CPO and its human rights impacts.

If the system remains unchanged, more children like Safira will fall victim.
We call on all elements of society to stand in solidarity and demand justice.

For more information and field documentation, please contact:
Muali – Secretary
Federation of Palm Oil Plantation Workers’ Union of West Kalimantan
0838-5475-9792