Tunas Sawa Erma (TSE) Group ESG Charter
TSE Group is committed to sustainable palm oil. We have dedicated ourselves to the conservation of nature, the absolute and unconditional respect of human rights, and to sustainable economic development and growth for 30 years in Indonesia and we’re always exploring new ways in which we can advance our environmental and social responsibility standards to uphold our commitments.
We are committed to implementing practical solutions that will be beneficial to the environment and to the communities in which we live and work. These solutions will require innovation, dedication, determination and creativity.
The situation in Papua, Indonesia, is unique and fragile, and requires thorough and effective engagement. We will work with communities, different levels of governments, and domestic and international NGOs to ensure that we meet our social and environmental commitments.
Scope:
This charter applies to all current and future holdings, subsidiary companies, joint ventures, companies over which we have management control, and any third-party suppliers. For third-party suppliers, we will work with relevant stakeholders to help them apply the policy and associated commitments.
Implementation, enforcement, monitoring and reporting procedures in cooperation with the third-party verifiers will ensure compliance for all aspects of the policy and commitments. The new TSE Group ESG Progress monitoring report will be open to the public and will include up to date information.
We ensure that all operational activities are carried out with high integrity to protect and enhance the environment and the welfare of the surrounding community. We are committed to safeguarding forest ecosystems, biodiversity, and related functions, such as flood prevention, job creation, and other ecological benefits.
In line with this, we are committed to:
- Utilize land that has been zoned for development by different layers of the Indonesian Governments to produce timber, plywood, or palm oil.
- Cease development on areas deemed to be High Conservation Value (HCV) or High Carbon Stock (HCS). Since November 2016, all natural forest clearance has been suspended while assessments were being conducted.
- Continue with our zero burning policy and no burning to clear land in any of the company’s operations.
- Maintain our no development policy on peat lands of any depth.
- Continue our effortsto reduce greenhouse gas emissions through systematic measurements and initiatives.
- Develop and implement sustainable conservation programs through the Papua Conservation initiative, which supports ecosystem protection and raises public awareness of conservation.
- Prohibit hunting of endemic species, especially the Pig-nosed Turtle and Bird of Paradise, which are under our protection and conservation efforts.
- In accordance with TSE Group’s Riparian SOP, we are committed to protect watersheds and riparian zones.
- Conduct Social and Environmental Impact Assessments (SEIA) for all activities, including suppliers, in line with SEIA and Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL).
- Develop and implement Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans (RKL-RPL) as instruments to prevent, mitigate, and manage social and environmental impacts responsibly.
We conduct our business in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of individuals and communities. We are committed to aligning our community actions with global priorities linked to poverty reduction, health, education, climate change prevention, and environmental degradation. We are committed to improving our procedures with regards to respecting the customary rights of communities and recognizing the need for food security in new developments. We also seek to improve the living conditions of everyone in the communities. We will do the following:
- Proactively engage with communities and undertake robust free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) processes through sustained engagement to ensure that customary and cultural land rights are respected;
- Establish effective and transparent conflict resolution frameworks, which are communicated to all relevant stakeholders and community members, including effective access to advocates and to remedy with a resolution;
- Create participatory mapping prior to any new development to establish stakeholder boundaries and land uses;
- Establish plasma plantations that promote sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the economic growth of the local community;
- Commit to effective and implementable Corporate Social Contribution (CSC) activities and programs, which include development of infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other social empowerment programs.
TSE Group is committed to conducting its operations sustainably while respecting human rights, workers’ rights, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. This commitment applies to all company activities and throughout supply chain, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, NDPE Policy (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation), as well as national and international laws. We also uphold and comply with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169 to respect the rights, needs, and aspirations of Indigenous peoples, which includes the implementing the 10 Core ILO Conventions:
- The elimination of forced labor (Convention No. 29)
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining (Conventions No. 87 & 98)
- Equal remuneration and non-discrimination in employment (Conventions No. 100 & 111)
- The protection of children from labor exploitation (Conventions No. 138 & 182)
- Occupational health and safety (Convention No. 155)
- Maternity protection and the elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace (Conventions No. 183 & 190)
Implementation across our operations and supply chain includes:
- Prohibiting all forms of forced labor and child labor.
- Ensuring safe, healthy, and decent working conditions.
- Providing equal opportunities without discrimination.
- Respecting freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
TSE Group requires suppliers and business partners to respect human rights and avoid causing harm to the environment or communities, including:
- Respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities in accordance with the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
- Recognizing and protecting legal and customary land rights.
- Providing transparent and accessible grievance mechanisms.
- Supporting the inclusion of smallholders and out growers in sustainable supply chains.
- Providing CSC programs that deliver tangible benefits to communities.
- Preventing negative impacts on local food security and resolving disputes peacefully without violence.
As part of our No Exploitation commitment, we ensure fair wages and equal opportunities to workers with the following standards:
- Paying a living wage sufficient to meet the basic needs of workers and their families, above the provincial minimum wage (UMP) standard.
- Guaranteeing equal pay between male and female workers performing work of equal value.
- Reviewing wage structure regularly to ensure compliance with fair wage standards.
- Ensuring all workers in core operations receive at least the established living wage.
Providing employee training, including training on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).
We commit to resolving complaints and conflicts through an open, transparent and effective process. We seek to engage and collaborate with the local, regional and national governments, certification bodies, regional projects, and NGOs to help better manage our operations. We will do the following:
- Work with key stakeholders and independent verification bodies to implement sustainable growth and promote industry transformation;
- Maintain an ESG monitoring and assessment program to communicate information, progress toward policy compliance, complaints resolution, and supplier engagement and verification;
- Publish progress reports on implementation of sustainable growth;
- Resolve grievances promptly, responsibly, responsively, and proactively.
