Musim Mas Strengthens Women's Empowerment Programme as Foundation for Sustainability in Operations and Community
Medan, Indonesia — Commemorating National Women’s Day, Musim Mas reaffirmed its commitment to building a more inclusive palm oil industry through women’s empowerment and gender equality. The company believes that women play a crucial role in driving sustainability and industrial advancement, and views gender equality not merely as a moral responsibility, but as part of its long-term business strategy.
This commitment has been implemented through various initiatives, including a Gender Committee and women’s empowerment programmes. These commitments have been strengthened in Musim Mas’s Sustainability Roadmap 2026–2030, where Gender Equity and Women Empowerment is now a priority strategy. Through reinforcing the Gender Committee at operational level and the Women Smallholders Programme (WSP) at community level, Musim Mas continues to promote women’s role and contribution throughout the palm oil supply chain, as part of efforts to create a sustainable and competitive industry.
During a webinar titled “Strengthening Business Resilience through Sustainability,” Vivi Anita, General Manager of Sustainability at Musim Mas, stated: “Through this Women’s Empowerment Programme, we are not only conducting responsible business but also investing in human resources to enhance our operational resilience and promote women’s sovereignty and independence. This is an important step towards overall community welfare.”
Gender Committee: Tangible Support for Women in the Workplace
Since its establishment in 2008, the Gender Committee has become instrumental in creating a safe, dignified, and inclusive work environment for all workers, particularly women, across the company’s operational units. At the operational level, the Gender Committee actively protects women and supports their strategic participation and contribution.
Musim Mas has collaborated with the independent organisation DIWA (Dignity in Work For All), a global non-profit focused on fulfilling workers’ rights and dignity. Through various assessments, focused group discussions with workers, and training for Gender Committee members and workers in plantations and factories, the programme drives change that is both structural and cultural, touching daily work practices and mindsets.
The initiative creates a safe space for female workers to voice their aspirations and experiences, whilst strengthening mechanisms for handling sensitive issues such as discrimination, gender-based violence, and sexual harassment using a survivor-centred approach. The initiative aims to increase understanding of gender equality, women’s leadership, and men’s role as active supporters of gender equality in driving social change.
For Musim Mas, women’s empowerment is not merely a programme but an integral part of the company’s sustainability strategy. Through the Gender Committee, the company consistently promotes equal access and opportunities for women in various roles and leadership levels, recognises women’s dual role as workers and family members, and drives social norm change through engaging men in gender equality dialogue.
Women Smallholders Programme: Strengthening Women in Plantation Communities
Beyond the operational level, Musim Mas has expanded the impact of women’s empowerment at the community level through the Women Smallholders Programme (WSP). The programme targets female smallholder farmers and smallholders’ wives, focusing on strengthening their social and economic capacity so they can contribute more substantially to their families, farming enterprises, and communities.
The WSP is designed to address real challenges faced by women in plantations through training in nutrition and family health, financial literacy, and business opportunity development. In 2023, the first phase of WSP was implemented in three districts in Riau, in collaboration with academics from North Sumatra University and national financial institutions.
Initial implementation results demonstrate tangible impact: over 500 women participated in nutrition and family health training with monitoring of behavioural change; 574 women participated in financial literacy training to strengthen household economic resilience; and three women’s business groups were formed and received training and mentoring in essential goods trading. Currently, these business groups manage enterprises providing essential goods to local communities and small shops, with average assets of 80 million rupiah per group.
Prof. Ir. Diana Chalil, M.Si., Ph.D., Agribusiness lecturer at North Sumatra University involved in WSP mentoring, views the programme as a strategic step. “Smallholder farms are generally managed as family enterprises, where women play an important role, both as workers and household financial managers. Therefore, efforts to improve the performance and sustainability of smallholder palm plantations must actively involve and empower women.”
Moving Forward
Musim Mas will continue to strengthen the Gender Committee’s capacity, integrate learning into company management systems, and expand the reach of the Women Smallholders Programme to various regions. Through a collaborative and sustainable approach, Musim Mas is committed to ensuring that women are not only protected but also given space and opportunities to grow, have their opinions and contributions recognised, and become agents of change in realising an inclusive and sustainable palm oil industry.