PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — Amid persistent negative perceptions surrounding the palm oil industry, a different and compelling narrative is emerging—one that sheds light on the transformative social role of Indonesian palm plantations. This isn’t just rhetoric; it’s backed by tangible evidence—from health clinics nestled among plantations to free schools for workers’ children. Behind the cloud of criticism, palm oil has quietly nurtured seeds of a golden generation.
The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), through its Head of Human Resource Development, Sumarjono Saragih, emphasized that palm oil deserves praise not only for contributing over Rp600 trillion in foreign exchange earnings this year but also for its deep commitment to human development in remote rural areas where plantations operate.
“Sometimes, we’re too focused on the industry’s dark sides. But palm oil’s potential to empower a golden generation is very real,” said Sumarjono, who also founded the Worker Initiatives for Sustainable Palm Oil (WISPO).
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Historically, Indonesia’s plantation legacy dates back to colonial times. But not all legacies are negative. One enduring footprint is the attention to healthcare and education. A prime example is Putri Hijau Hospital in Medan, now managed by the Indonesian Army, which was originally established by the Deli Maatschappij tobacco plantation in 1885.
This legacy lives on in modern palm oil plantations. On-site clinics staffed with 24-hour medical personnel are common. Childcare services—from daycares to schools ranging from kindergarten to high school—are provided. Children of plantation workers receive free education, and even children from surrounding communities can enroll, provided they meet basic requirements.
This year’s World Day Against Child Labour was commemorated in a unique setting—right in the heart of a palm plantation. Themed “Joy with Children of the Palm Plantations”, the event was held at Wilmar PT AMP’s plantation in Agam Regency, West Sumatra, with support from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA), local government, and the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP).
The main participants? The children of plantation workers. They showcased their talents—singing, dancing, reciting poetry—in an atmosphere full of pride and joy. “These are not child laborers. They are children growing up within a system that respects their rights,” said Sumarjono in a statement to Palmoilmagazine.com on Saturday, June 28, 2025.
The palm oil industry’s commitment to fostering child-friendly environments has not gone unnoticed. On June 16, 2025, GAPKI was awarded the PAACLA AWARD 2025 during the national commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour in Jakarta—proof that collaboration between the private sector and the government can drive real change in child protection within the plantation sector.
Where the government’s reach is limited in rural areas, the social systems embedded in palm oil plantations have become silent pillars of the Indonesia Emas 2045 vision. Children raised with adequate nutrition, quality education, and values of hard work and responsibility in these plantations are the true foundation of the nation’s future.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that palm oil is fueling the rise of Indonesia’s golden generation,” Sumarjono concluded.
Beyond the polarized debates over sustainability, palm oil is making a quiet but powerful impact—touching the very core of human development: children. And from plantations often misunderstood by the public, the hope for Indonesia’s future is blossoming—greeting the skies with bright, confident smiles. (P2)
