InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The issues of gender discrimination and child labor exploitation have resurfaced in global discussions, including within Indonesia's palm oil industry. Amid international scrutiny of labor practices, industry players are taking progressive steps to reaffirm their commitment to human rights and equality.
Sumarjono Saragih, Head of Human Resource Development at GAPKI (Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association), emphasized that the Indonesian palm oil industry is not standing still. "Since 2020, GAPKI has developed guidelines and conducted campaigns for the protection of women and child workers. We are now expanding this movement through the GEBIE initiative," Sumarjono stated in a press release to InfoSAWIT on Friday (May 30, 2025).
GEBIE, which stands for Gender Equality in Business Initiatives Enthusiast, is a collaboration between GAPKI, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Government of Canada. This initiative promotes gender mainstreaming in the palm oil sector through community and company-based approaches.
"Our goal is to encourage the active participation of women in the palm oil industry ecosystem while ensuring that children are not part of the labor supply chain," Sumarjono added.
Globally, similar efforts are being promoted through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) platform, particularly point 5 on gender equality. Meanwhile, the European Union has enacted the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which requires global companies to ensure that there are no forced labor or child labor practices in their supply chains.
Indonesia faces significant challenges. In the 2024 Global Gender Gap Index by the World Economic Forum, Indonesia's ranking dropped to 100 out of 146 countries, down from 87 in 2023. Discrimination against women persists across various sectors, from households to public spaces, education, and the workforce.
However, the palm oil sector is showing progress. Currently, two women hold strategic positions in the global palm oil producing organization, CPOPC (Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries): Izzana Salleh from Malaysia as Secretary-General and Musdhalifah Machmud from Indonesia as Deputy. Both are expected to be key drivers of GEBIE.
"Women in palm oil are not just subjects of protection but also agents of change. They must be involved as leaders and inspirators," Sumarjono asserted.
Through this movement, the Indonesian palm oil industry aims to assert that issues of gender equality and child protection are not merely obligations but integral to a sustainable and dignified business future. (T2)
