MPOB-UKM ENDOWMENT CHAIR

 

Differentiating Children Assisting Parents, Working Children and Child Labour: Modelling A Standard Guidance for Oil Palm Smallholders

Research Grant, 2021

Abstract

Sabah has tens of thousands of local and non-citizen children, some of whom are allegedly working informally and assisting parents undertaking oil palm activities. The lack of identity, access to formal education, compounded with rural poverty further position some segments of children in child labour situation. Existing regulations and industry standards do not provide clear guidance of what the children can do; for how long; and what can be considered socially and culturally acceptable? This raises a fundamental inquiry - is there a need to differentiate between different types of children involvement in oil palm, and importantly, how best the regulators and certification bodies can govern children involvement in oil palm so as to prevent it from escalating to child labour incidence? This study aims to undertake a situational analysis (SitAn) of children involvement in oil palm activities, covering the nature, extent, risks and factors of their involvement. Secondly, it aims to develop a model guidance to govern children involvement in oil palm activities. This study employs employ a mixed-method research, combining time use survey and ethnographic research. The time use survey aims to investigate the nature and extent of children involvement in oil palm activities, while the ethnographic research aims to assess the root causes and other systemic barriers. Field work will be undertaken in two selected sites namely Lahad Datu and Kinabatangan, involving at minimum 100 sample children aged between five and 17 years. This research aims to produce one article in indexed journal and one model guidance of children involvement in oil palm, enabling the regulators and certification bodies to govern children in the palm oil sector, subsequently improves access to global commodity market.

Project Leader

Andika Ab. Wahab (Institut Kajian Malaysia & Antarabangsa, andikawahab@ukm.edu.my)