Palm oil workers face risks most people never hear about. Every year, the Employment Network for Sustainable Palm Oil (JAGASAWITAN) calls together industry leaders, labor advocates, and experts for a meeting that doesn't shy away from tough issues—this year, worker safety, health, and gender equality take center stage. But here's where it gets controversial: how do companies balance profit, tradition, and the well-being of every single worker, especially women in challenging roles?
What’s Really Happening in 2025?
Picture this: an employee in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, carefully applies chemicals at the base of oil palms, using advanced tools but facing hazards that rarely make headlines. This annual forum provides a rare opportunity for open conversation between major organizations like GAPKI and JAPBUSI, all under the JAGASAWITAN umbrella. And this is the part most people miss: Gender perspectives on safety aren’t just HR buzz—they’re mission-critical, shaping who thrives and who risks falling through the cracks.
Main Outcomes You Should Watch
- Sharpened insight into how gender shapes health and safety challenges for palm oil workers.
- Expert recommendations and real-world feedback from everyone with skin in the game.
The Daily Run-Down
| Time | What’s Happening | Who’s Leading It |
|--------------|---------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
| 08:00–09:00 | Registration | JAGASAWITAN |
| 09:00–09:10 | Opening Remarks | Event MC |
| 09:10–09:30 | Address and Opening Statement | JAGASAWITAN, ILO |
| 09:30–09:45 | Dive into RealGains Project and JAGASAWITAN | Dede Sudono (ILO) |
| 09:45–10:00 | Fuel up: Coffee Break | |
| 10:00–10:45 | Gender-Focused Safety Presentation | Yuka Ujita (ILO Specialist) |
| 10:45–11:30 | Q&A — Where sparks might fly! | JAGASAWITAN Moderator |
| 11:30–12:00 | New Approaches to OSH Statistics (SAKERNAS session) | Abdul Hakim (ILO) |
| 12:00–13:00 | Community Lunch | |
| 13:00–16:00 | Behind-Closed-Doors: Coordination Talks | JAGASAWITAN |
Let’s Get Real
While the agenda may look familiar, the biggest challenge—and controversy—lies in turning dialogue into action, and in giving workers (especially women) a voice that matters. Can these sessions produce more than reports? Do you think industry-led meetings truly spark change on the ground, or is stronger government oversight required? Where do you stand on the best way forward? Share your hottest takes and let’s debate: who carries the burden for ethical palm oil—companies, policymakers, or consumers like you?[1][2][9]
