Towards living wages in palm oil

Towards a Living Wage for Workers in the Palm Oil Sector

A statutory minimum wage does not necessarily mean that workers earn enough to meet their basic needs. This is clearly demonstrated by research into the wages of workers in the palm oil sector in Colombia, Ghana, and Indonesia.

Among the workers interviewed, 72% in Ghana, 57% in Indonesia, and 46% in Colombia earn less than the estimated living wage level. However, different factors lie behind these figures. In Indonesia, minimum wage regulations are often not fully enforced. In Colombia and Ghana, the statutory minimum wage itself is insufficient. In all three countries, workers frequently depend on overtime, bonuses, or meeting production targets to achieve a reasonable income.

What does this mean for trade unions? The 4-pager Towards Living Wages in Palm Oil presents the key findings for each country and highlights strategies that trade unions can use to move step by step towards achieving living wages.

The key message: there is no single route to a living wage. An effective strategy must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each country.

Read and download the 4-pager or the country-specific research reports.