InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The Indonesian government is stepping up efforts to promote gender equality in the palm oil industry, seeking to expand women’s access to resources, fair wages, skills development and workplace support.
Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Arifah Fauzi said the government’s gender mainstreaming guidelines for the palm oil sector were not intended to create additional burdens for companies. Instead, the guidelines are designed to ensure that women involved in the plantation industry have their rights protected while being given greater opportunities to improve their productivity.
“The gender mainstreaming guidelines for the palm oil plantation sector are not intended to make things difficult for companies, but to ensure that women involved in the palm oil plantation sector can become more productive,” Arifah said during the Socialisation of Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines in the Palm Oil Sector in Jakarta on Wednesday.
InfoSAWIT reported from Antara, Monday (14/9/2026), Arifah said women working in plantations still face several forms of inequality, including limited access to resources that could support their work and productivity.
Pay equality remains another concern, while women also have not always received sufficient opportunities to improve their skills and capabilities.
Workplace Facilities for Women Workers
The government is also highlighting the need for companies to consider the family circumstances of women workers, particularly those raising young children.
Arifah said companies could provide supporting facilities such as childcare centres or daycare facilities for workers with toddlers. Such facilities, she said, would help ensure children have a suitable environment for their growth and development while their mothers are working.
The Ministry of PPPA plans to expand socialisation of the gender mainstreaming guidelines among companies operating in the palm oil sector.
Rather than applying the guidelines solely through administrative requirements, the government intends to evaluate their implementation directly in the field.
Officials will visit several companies to assess how the guidelines are being applied and identify challenges that may arise during implementation.
Guidelines to Be Evaluated in the Field
Arifah said the government would initially work with several companies to introduce and implement the guidelines. Afterward, the implementation would be evaluated jointly based on findings from the field.
The evaluation could also lead to revisions of the guidelines if adjustments are needed to reflect actual conditions within palm oil companies and plantations.
The Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines in the Palm Oil Sector were officially launched during Indonesia’s Palm Oil Research Week on July 20, 2026.
Through the guidelines, the government expects gender equality principles to become more deeply integrated into palm oil plantation management. The policy is also intended to create a workplace environment that gives women greater opportunities to develop their capabilities and contribute to higher productivity.
For Indonesia’s palm oil industry, the initiative places gender inclusion not only within the context of employment rights, but also as part of efforts to strengthen productivity and the long-term sustainability of the plantation sector. (T2)
