On December 2, 2024, Lintas Platinum Hotel in Kota Kinabalu became the venue for an inspiring dialogue session titled “Upholding Dignity of Work: Engaging Communities and Stakeholders for Change.” The event, held from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, brought together various parties to discuss and find solutions for decent work issues in Sabah.
The event began with registration and breakfast at 8:00 AM, followed by welcoming remarks and an official opening. This session aimed to provide a platform for in-depth discussions about employment conditions in Sabah, focusing particularly on challenges, gaps, and their impact on workers, especially in the palm oil plantation sector.
Key Objectives of the Session
- Raising Awareness: About the challenges of decent work in Sabah and steps to address them.
- Formulating Recommendations: To support collective efforts in improving workers' conditions.
- Strengthening Collaboration: Among communities, the private sector, and the government to create sustainable change.
Activity Highlights:
- Introduction to the Decent Work Agenda by Ms. Florida Sandanasamy, ILO National Project Coordinator, who provided a comprehensive overview of the principles and objectives of decent work.
- Dialogue Session 1 discussed major challenges, including employment inequalities, labor protection, and immigration issues. This session was moderated by Kalaivani Subbramaniam from Global Shepherds Berhad, featuring panelists from Jabatan Hal Ehwal Kesatuan Sekerja (JHEKS) Sabah, Jurisdictional Approach for Sustainable Palm Oil (JASPO) Sabah, and Malaysia Immigration Department Sabah. The main challenges to improve decent work in Sabah that were highlighted during the discussion are; 1) The use of migrant issues for political gain that is persistent trend throughout history, reflecting the ways in which migration intersects with power, identity, and economics 2) Lack of knowledge and awareness among the migrant workers of their legal rights and the laws designed to protect them.
- Presentation of the Situational Analysis of Palm Oil Plantations in Sabah by Dr. Muhammad Faliq Abdul Razak, offering academic insights into employment conditions in this vital sector.
- Dialogue Session 2 focused on solutions, including recommendations and action plans to improve decent work practices. This session was moderated by Marni Masri from Global Shepherds Berhad, with panelists from various organizations, including Consulate General of Indonesia Kota Kinabalu, Koalisi Buruh Migran Berdaulat (KBMB), Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union (STIEU) Sabah, and Malaysia Trade Union Congress (MTUC) Sabah. One of the recommendations that were highlighted by all the panelists is to have continuous inclusive dialogue sessions such as this in the future.
The event also provided space for feedback and Q&A sessions, allowing participants to share their views and pose questions to the panelists. Questions that were mostly asked by the migrant workers were on asking for clarification about immigration matters that they are experiencing on the ground.
By the end of the event, the session summary and participant feedback provided clear directions on what needs to be done to make decent work a reality in Sabah. This event not only raised awareness but also inspired action toward workers' welfare.
With closing remarks and an afternoon tea session, participants departed with renewed hope for advocating for workers' rights and dignity in Sabah. May this initiative serve as the first step in a long journey toward meaningful change.