Palm oil producer accused of abuses

Human rights investigators have accused one of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s largest private companies of serious abuses.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the palm oil producer, Feronia, has contaminated drinking water sources, exposed some workers to pesticides and underpaid its staff.

The company, which has received investment from the British government and loans from other European countries, denies the allegations.

It says its staff earn above the national agricultural minimum wage, that it has invested in providing clean water, and that employees who use pesticides are given proper protective equipment.

HRW says it gathered credible evidence when it interviewed dozens of Feronia employees and collected evidence of untreated company waste going into drinking-water sources.

Source: bbc.com