KUALA LUMPUR: FGV Holdings Bhd
has reimbursed RM72.2mil in recruitment fees to 19,673 migrant workers, including former migrant workers, to-date.
FGV group CEO Datuk Nazrul Mansor said the group is fully committed to the principle of "no recruitment fee" for workers, as it implements initiative and measures to strengthen its labour practices.
"We have made every effort towards ensuring that our recruitment procedures are aligned with ethical recruitment standards," he said in a statement.
The reimbursements amounting to RM72.2mil were made in March, June and September 2023, respectively, out of a total RM112mil allocated for the reimbursements of recruitment fees.
The group is also implementing a reimbursement programme for former migrant workers who are eligible to receive recruitment fee reimbursements.
FGV is reaching out to its former workers to inform them about the reimbursement programme, which is publicised periodically on FGV's social media accounts as well as in local newspapers in the workers' countries of origin.
It said the former worker reimbursement programme, which will be carried out until end-2024, has reimbursed 415 formers workers amounting to RM1.77mil to-date.
The group has appointed LQRA, a leading global assurance partner with a dedicated sustainability consulting department with vast experience in advancing social compliance and addressing forced labour risks by applying a worker-centric approach.
"LRQA is expected to conduct its follow-up assessment in the first quarter of 2024 which is to verify the implementation of FGV’s overall remediation plan.
"With the outcome of the assessment, FGV will then prepare a petition to the US Customs and Border Protection to modify the withhold release order, which will be submitted by the end of the second quarter of 2024," said the group.
