In partnership with Ferrero, Intercontinental Specialty Fats (ISF), and Dara Lam Soon (DLS), Earthworm Foundation has implemented the Labour Transformation Programme (LTP) and Ethical Recruitment Due Diligence (ERDD) in Peninsular Malaysia. This joint effort has directly improved recruitment systems and strengthened protections for over 420 migrant workers, showing how supplier-led action can turn global human rights commitments into tangible outcomes at mill and estate level.
While satellite technology can track deforestation and land use with precision, it cannot capture the social realities—such as recruitment practices, fair contracts, or worker well-being. That’s why sustainability efforts must go beyond remote monitoring and take root on the ground, where labour-related risks can be better understood and addressed. Through our collaboration with Ferrero and Earthworm Foundation, and with thanks to Dara Lam Soon for their openness and commitment, we’ve demonstrated that meaningful transformation happens when brands and suppliers work side by side to strengthen systems, build capacity, and ensure responsible practices are embedded across the supply chain.
— Hoo Boon Han, Assistant General Manager, Intercontinental Specialty Fats
By acting as a link between downstream companies and upstream suppliers, Earthworm supported dialogue, capacity building, and shared solutions on labour rights. This collaborative approach underscores that meaningful transformation is not achieved through audits alone, but through continuous engagement, capacity building, and shared ownership across the supply chain.
This case study highlights that human rights due diligence is not just a compliance exercise but a driver of business resilience, worker well-being, and lasting change when downstream actors, upstream suppliers, and enablers like Earthworm work hand in hand.
