Deal #10036

Before the establishment of the plantation, the company invited to several meetings. Nowadays there are monthly meetings between company and village representatives.

Envy and resentment have led to arson. Fires set with the intention to destroy rubber trees and uncontrolled fires for clearing neighboring plots have in total destroyed more than 200 ha as of 2023. Rubber theft is another structural issue. The district has deployed soldiers and police forces to secure the plantation. People have been imprisoned.

The company offers rubber tapping courses to community members, whether they work for the company or not. Some villages received a central electricity grid connection (from which each family can invest into a household connection). The villages report to be economically better off and people are now better able to afford water and electricity. Requests for road repairs or improvements can be made and have been realized. Each village can select its poorest household which is then financially supported by the company. The household is selected anew every year. The company helped villagers to get land certificates. The 'Village Development Fund', as the company calls it, is known as support money with the villages. The 5,000 LAK/ha/year are used to finance travels to other government authorities or to host visitors from them. The company pays for funerals of workers (3 mio LAK). Villages can ask for financial for support for festivities and usually receive it.