Gender equality in palm oil production and sourcing

Gender equality is a fundamental human right and contributes to a sustainable future. However,  inequitable government and private sector policies and programmes institutionalise discriminatory practices against women workers in the palm oil industry. Due to traditional gender norms, employment in the palm oil industry has long been male-dominated even though women workers contribute significantly to operations and management. Gender inequality in agriculture is widely recognised as an issue that must be addressed urgently.

This discussion paper aims to help mid and downstream companies in the palm oil industry understand gender perspectives and issues, as well as to serve as a guide to apply in their supply chains when dealing with these issues. The outlined key themes are:

  • Issues and barriers faced in relation to gender inequality in the palm oil industry

  • Tools and approaches for implementation by stakeholders to improve women’s rights and gender equality in the palm oil industry

  • Recommendations to achieve gender equality in the palm oil industry

Issues and barriers on gender inequality in Indonesia and Malaysia

The wide gender gap in the agricultural workforce may suggest that most women are involved in unpaid tasks that support men’s work and that they are at a disadvantage in the agricultural sector. This is due to discriminatory attitudes, norms, and gender roles assigned to them in society. Women workers face discrimination in wages, entitlement to traditional land, laws and enforcement, leadership roles, workforce, and in labour rights. In addition, lack of healthcare services and support, and unaddressed gender-based violence and harassment are also among the issues faced by women workers in the palm oil industry. This section provides the key barriers in gender inequality faced by women in Indonesia and Malaysia due to societal misogyny in employment and the repercussions of those barriers.

Tools and approaches for implementation

This section provides  information on the tools and approaches available to palm oil stakeholders to improve women’s rights and gender equality in their supply chain. The following tools and approaches are:

  • Women’s Economic Empowerment Principles (WEP)

  • RSPO Practical Guidance on Gender Inclusion and Compliance with P&C 2018 and ISH 201940

  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Compass

  • Agricultural Commodity Responsible Sourcing (ACRES)

Recommendations

A gender-sensitive approach across operations and supply chains is vital for workers to fully benefit and participate equally in work. Hence, the five elements from Proforest’s Palm Oil Toolkit (i.e. assess and plan implementation, understand the supply chain, engage within and beyond supply chains, monitor, verify and report, and monitor emerging issues and responses) are used as a reference to achieve gender equality in the palm oil industry. This section serves as a guideline for companies to take a holistic approach to make their operations gender-sensitive as well as providing the rationale behind each recommendation to foster conversations around gender equality and promote actions for improvements within the supply chain.