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Giant Slayers - Asian Agri vs. Serikat Buruh Sejahtera Indonesia 1992





PT Andalas IntiAgro Lestari

I surveyed this plantation yesterday which is located in Aek Kuo, Labuhanbatu Utara. It is part of the plantations under Asian Agri (Oil Palm Producer) in North Sumatra. There about 400 workers employed in this plantation, non-management staff. There are various tasks done by workers, harvesting, spraying, fertilizing and general work. Women work as daily wage workers or as 'buruh harian lepas' as they are known here. They earn IDR 61,000 per day ( RM19.29) working from 6.30 am to 1.30 pm. They carry out a range of tasks - spraying (semprot), segregation fertilizer (menguntil), weeding, census taking, maintenance and fertilizing (memupuk). 
Women's participation
Women are recruited by the management of the plantation but not as permanent workers with benefits. These women's husbands work on the plantation and are permanent workers or 'SKU'. The work tasked to women is part of the plantation's production. Some of the women who do not get opportunities for daily work or 'BLH' as they are known, usually assist their husbands in collecting loose fruit when the men harvest. This plantation does not pay its harvesters for loose fruits collected. However, it is part of the task of harvesting and harvesters are expected to collect the loose fruits. The management is aware that the assistance of the wives would be sought by the husbands, and it would not need to pay for the labour of women. At times, the harvesters need to hire others at IDR 20,000 (RM 6.32 or USD 2.04). Harvesters who can't afford to pay others to work for them, tend to force their children to assist them achieve the impossible targets set by the plantation. 
M

M was one of the women I interviewed, she used to work as a 'BHL'. The money that she earned was helpful for her family's expenses. When her husband started actively organizing for the union, she was not allowed to work. 'BHL'/daily wage workers are not permanent employees, hence are in a vulnerable position. The management can hire or fire without providing any justification. Most women who take on daily waged labour are often in fear of losing their only opportunity to earn a living for their families. 

M was a victim of intimidation of the plantation. She was suddenly denied work without any explanation by the management. When she complained to her husband, he was at a loss. He was unable to act on her behalf, M frequently had fights with her husband due to this. She believes on the union could agitate for her cause, her husband does not allow her to participate in union activities. During my interview with her, she wanted to be trained and involved in the union because she believed it could protect her rights.



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