Photo: One of Korintiga Hutani’s female workers, tending to its plant nursery
WEST KOTAWARINGIN – Timber firm Korintiga Hutani has deeply enhanced the lives of surrounding communities, including their opportunities for employment. Residents now embrace a wide range of jobs from plantation workers to support staff.
“The impacts have been positive and are very much felt. Many of us now work at the company, whose presence has opened doors previously closed to villagers,” said Anton, who lives in Riam Village.
At Korintiga Hutani, hiring priority is given to locals. This policy guides annual work planning by allocating employment quotas for each village. But while these quotas are not limited to specific positions, candidates tend to choose farming roles, said Riam leader Dedy Simson.
“Each year, we’re invited to [the company‘s] annual work meeting to submit one to two names. And all of them do get recruited,” Simson said.
This practice not only helps tamp down unemployment; it also strengthens community participation in productive work. By providing fair access to employment, Korintiga Hutani takes part in building village economies without leaving anyone behind.
Local landowners also profit from hutan tanaman rakyat (community plantation forest), a forest management scheme that offers economic benefits. Simple yet impactful, the scheme relies on resource sharing; these people provide land, and Korintiga Hutani provides the seedlings/saplings, manpower, and equipment for planting, maintenance, and harvest. Landowners are welcome to help manage the forests in exchange for monetary payment.
Simson said this system has gained traction with the Riams, even more so than oil palm farming. “Oil palms require heavy maintenance, which is a struggle because some of us [villagers] are old.”
Hutan tanaman rakyat and local employment are a testament to our promise as Korintiga Hutani to promote economic empowerment and build rapport with local communities. Our programs aim to provide relief to the elderly and physically disabled while also supporting the lives of orphans and female heads of households. (PR)