InfoSAWIT, MEDAN – In commemoration of National Women’s Day, integrated palm oil company Musim Mas reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a more inclusive palm oil industry through women’s empowerment and gender equality across its supply chain.
For Musim Mas, women play a strategic role in advancing sustainability and development in the palm oil sector. The company therefore views gender equality not only as a moral responsibility but also as a key component of its long-term business strategy.
This commitment is reflected in various initiatives, ranging from strengthening Gender Committees within operations to implementing the Women Smallholders Program (WSP) at the community level.
These efforts are also part of the Musim Mas Sustainability Roadmap 2026–2030, which identifies Gender Equity and Women Empowerment as a strategic priority.
Gender Committee Strengthens Protection for Female Workers
Since its establishment in 2008, the Gender Committee has become a key pillar in creating a safe, dignified, and inclusive working environment for employees, particularly women.
To strengthen this initiative, Musim Mas collaborates with Dignity in Work for All (DIWA), a global non-profit organization focused on workers’ rights and dignity.
Through workplace assessments, focus group discussions with workers, and training programs for Gender Committee members as well as plantation and mill workers, the initiative encourages both structural and cultural changes within the workplace.
The program also provides a safe space for women workers to express their concerns and experiences while strengthening mechanisms to address sensitive issues such as discrimination, gender-based violence, and sexual harassment.
Women Smallholders Program Strengthens Female Farmers
Women’s empowerment efforts are also extended to communities through the Women Smallholders Program (WSP).
The program targets female Smallholders and the wives of palm oil farmers, aiming to strengthen their social and economic capacities so they can contribute more significantly to family livelihoods, plantation management, and community development.
In 2023, the first phase of the program was implemented in three districts in Riau Province in collaboration with academics from Universitas Sumatera Utara and national financial institutions.
More than 500 women participated in nutrition and family health training, while 574 women joined financial literacy programs to strengthen household economic resilience.
The initiative also led to the formation of three women-led small businesses in the grocery sector, with each group managing assets worth around Rp80 million.
Professor Diana Chalil, an agribusiness lecturer at Universitas Sumatera Utara, noted that women’s involvement is essential for the sustainability of Smallholder plantations.
“Smallholder plantations are generally managed as family businesses where women play an important role, both as workers and household financial managers. Therefore, efforts to improve the performance and sustainability of Smallholder palm oil plantations must actively involve and empower women,” she explained. (T2)
