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Earthworm is active in Indonesia’s Aceh and Riau provinces through two landscape-scale initiatives. Positioned at the intersection of supply chains and production regions, these collective actions serve as hubs for scalable regeneration and address key sustainability challenges. Efforts to protect women and children within our two initiatives in Indonesia are also gaining momentum. In May 2025, these two key regions launched important workshops and collaborative actions, bringing together companies, unions, local governments, and communities to address challenges and create safer, fairer environments for vulnerable groups.
Recognising the Challenges
Palm oil production supports thousands of livelihoods, including many women and children. However, these communities often face serious risks. Women frequently work in demanding conditions, with a lack of legal status as an informal daily labourer despite the permanent scope of work, let alone to have access rights on maternity and menstrual leaves. Moreover, children remain vulnerable to labour exploitation, limited access to education, and inadequate health services. These challenges have been widely documented by organisations such as International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), which report issues of child labour and insufficient protections for women in agricultural sectors, including palm oil.
Developed collaboratively by Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), Earthworm Foundation, and Indonesian Palm Oil Workers' Union Network (JAPBUSI), PADU PERKASA serves as a practical guide to improve daily worker contracts in the palm oil industry, aligning with Indonesian labour laws and promoting better welfare and rights protections. The guidelines were distributed during workshops in Aceh and Riau in May, where participants addressed these pressing concerns, underscoring the need for comprehensive protection frameworks.
Progress in Riau: Focus on Siak and Pelalawan Districts
In Riau landscape, workshops held in Siak and Pelalawan districts focused on distributing guidelines and developing clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to safeguard women and children on plantations.
In Siak District, managers, union representatives, women’s leaders, and government officials collaborated to draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) focused on gender equality, child safety, and health protections. This collective effort fostered open dialogue and laid the groundwork for actionable measures. Budi Harun, the Head of the Workforce Working Group, expressed his confidence in the newly developed draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), stating, “I am optimistic that these SOPs, which we have collaboratively developed during the workshop, will be implemented effectively and drive tangible impact in safeguarding women and children within each company.”
Meanwhile, in Pelalawan, participants acknowledged progress of existing SOPs in several companies and worked together to formalise protections related to maternity rights, safe working conditions, and child welfare. Both workshops concluded with all participants signing a commitment brief, solidifying their dedication to implementing these guidelines.
Complementary Efforts in Aceh: Subulussalam City Workshop
At the same time, in Subulussalam City, Aceh, a workshop brought government officials, companies, and labour unions, demonstrating the power of collaboration to address issues such as child labour, workplace challenges for women, and barriers to health and education. This initiative complements Riau’s efforts by promoting collaboration tailored to Aceh’s unique landscape and community needs.
Zaldiansyah from the Subulussalam City Workforce and Transmigration Office highlighted that this workshop marks the first initiative in the area focused on the protection of women and children. He expressed gratitude for the collaboration, stating, "We will assess each company involved in the working group to identify their needs. This will enable us to monitor and assist them effectively, understanding the specific challenges each company faces regarding child labour risks and daily labour conditions."
Irfan Susandra, Secretary of the Subulussalam Workforce Working Group and representative from PT Asdal Lestari, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The first thing that I will do is to replicate this workshop internally within the company for management and staff. What I learned here, I will implement in my company. I will coordinate with the estate manager, the highest authority, to discuss improvements to the SOP that we can make as soon as possible.” Demonstrating his commitment, recently he initiated a similar workshop within his organisation, exemplifying the ripple effect of this initiative.
Shared Goals for Both Landscapes
Across both the Aceh and Riau landscapes, the shared goals are clear and focused on creating safer, fairer environments for women and children. These include:
- Safe and Fair Working Conditions for Women: Including maternity protections and respectful workplace policies.
- Protecting Children: Aiming to eliminate child labour and improve access to education and health services.
- Health and Welfare: Strengthening prenatal and child health support.
- Collaborative Monitoring: Encouraging multi-stakeholder monitoring for sustainable, long-term protections.
Looking Ahead
Both Aceh and Riau landscapes are preparing to pilot these new SOPs and increase community awareness through training and engagement programmes. These efforts aim to move beyond policy into everyday practice.
Siti Halimah, Labour Specialist at Earthworm Foundation in Indonesia, emphasised, “Workshops and guidelines are a strong start, but the real change happens when these commitments are put into daily practice. We are supporting local stakeholders to pilot these new procedures and raise awareness, so that policies don’t stay on paper but become part of everyday life for women and children in the palm oil communities.”
The Aceh landscape is financially supported by Hershey, Mars Inc., Nestlé, ADM Cares, Avril Group, Colgate-Palmolive, The Clorox Company, General Mills, Givaudan, Clariant, Fuji Oil, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and benefits from the engagement of communities, local government, and other local stakeholders. For more information about the project, visit Aceh landscape page.
The Riau landscape is financially supported by LVMH, Nestlé, Reckitt, April Group, CColgate-Palmolive, Givaudan, Target, PZ Cussons, Walmart Foundation, and similarly benefits from active participation by local communities, government authorities, and stakeholders. For more details, visit Riau landscape page.
