Lang
Jakarta - The Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki) has affirmed that the palm oil industry continues to deepen its commitment to protecting and upholding the rights of women workers, in pursuit of a sustainable and inclusive sector that benefits all segments of society.
Eddy Soeharjiyanto, Chairman of Gapki, said the palm oil sector remains committed to promoting the protection and empowerment of women workers, including through the realization of their labor rights and the creation of a safe and equitable working environment. He explained that the principle of gender equality has been embedded in various regulations and certification schemes, ranging from the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil standard (ISPO) to the international Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standard.
Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 26, Eddy noted that Gapki has published a technical guide providing executive instructions on how to implement gender equality in palm oil plantations. He stressed that awareness of, commitment to, and operational implementation of this principle across the farming and industrial segments of the sector are showing positive momentum, with many of the country's palm oil companies having established gender committees in line with RSPO requirements.
'The evidence that the industry is increasingly aligned with gender equality standards is that the majority of palm plantations now have operational procedures on gender equality, and most have already set up gender committees both at the corporate level and at the field level,' he said.
He added that, alongside the formation of these committees, domestic palm oil companies have begun to allocate dedicated spaces that allow women to voice their aspirations and report issues related to inequality, labor problems, and gender-based discrimination. These companies provide reporting channels that guarantee the confidentiality of complainants, with every report being followed up under strict confidentiality.
In parallel, the companies are continuing awareness and education initiatives on women's rights, including those related to occupational safety and health as well as labor rights. In this context, Eddy Soeharjiyanto remarked: 'In the past, there were many cases in which mothers did not receive any payment for assisting their husbands. Today, such situations should no longer occur; women's rights are now guaranteed.'
Gapki's commitments to safeguarding and fulfilling the rights of women workers are aligned with the efforts of the government, led by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), which seeks to deliver equitable sectoral development that enables both women and men to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from the sector's growth. Beyond encouraging the creation of more inclusive job opportunities, BPDP continues to strengthen its institutional capacity, bolster women's participation in the palm oil value chain, and support the adoption of better, more sustainable industry management practices.
Eddy Soeharjiyanto emphasized that the mechanisms to protect women workers are not limited to internal company structures, as women can also file reports or complaints with labor management in the event of any workplace issues. He concluded: 'In reality, there is no longer any room for companies not to apply gender mainstreaming and operationalize gender equality in their activities. The government and NGOs are monitoring compliance strictly and continuously.'
Source: VOI.ID