An investigative panel in Malaysia recently looked into claims made by the Wall Street Journal that accused palm oil producer, FGV Holdings, of engaging in exploitative labor practices. The investigation revealed that the firm has been employing contractors to recruit and hire foreign laborers, which is against Malaysian immigration law. Workers endure poor living conditions- they lack access to food and other necessities. Additionally, their contractors are not transparent regarding wages and take workers’ passports, thus limiting their mobility. In response to the investigation, FGV Holdings has stated that it intends to hire workers, if possible, and better their conditions immediately.
See "Palm oil body says it finds exploitative labor practices at Malaysia's FGV", A. Ananthalakshmi and Emily Chow, Reuters, November 30, 2018