Olam Palm Gabon Resumes Operations Following Strike
Workers at Olam Palm Gabon, the palm-oil producing unit of Olam International, have returned to work at the company’s plantations in the north of Gabon’s capital, Libreville. The strike, which had a negative impact on Gabon’s palm-oil harvest, came to an end after weeklong negotiations with Olam Gabon’s management and senior government officials.
Olam Palm Gabon’s CEO, Darshan Raiyani, assured the workers that their demands would be addressed. With approximately 10,000 workers in its palm-oil and rubber plantations in Gabon, Olam is committed to meeting the needs of its employees.
The strike arose from various demands put forth by the workers, including wage increases, access to national health insurance, and the establishment of a social guarantee fund. Workers also sought improved working conditions such as weekly rest, payment rights for deceased workers, and the provision of potable water in homes. Additionally, they requested allowances and transportation services for their children to attend school. The strike has intermittently disrupted operations for the past four months.
Gabon’s palm-oil harvest experienced a decline during the first half of the year, reaching 82,657 metric tons between January and June. This represents a 5.7% decrease compared to the same period last year as a result of the workers’ absence from the plantations, according to the country’s ministry of economy.
