From Strength to Skill

Sustainability

The Rise of Women in the Modern Palm Oil Workforce

For decades, plantation work was defined by physical strength and endurance, with many believing that only men could perform such roles. Today, a quiet yet powerful shift is taking place.

Across our oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia and Africa, women are moving away from traditional field roles and stepping confidently into technical, operational and supervisory positions. They are operating both heavy and lightweight vehicles and machinery, analysing field data on tablets and mastering tools that would once have been unimaginable in their hands.

With the introduction of mechanical loaders, GPS-guided tractors, motorised cutters and drones, just to name a few, technology has become a bridge that connects women to opportunities. Tasks that once relied on brute strength now demand focus, precision and a willingness to learn – qualities women have always possessed.

Shifting Mindsets, Strengthening Inclusion

However, the real story is not the technology itself, but what happens when communities see women performing roles they have never seen women undertake before.

As more women operate machinery, manage precision tools and lead field teams, we are witnessing a broader cultural shift – one that challenges outdated assumptions about gender and belonging in technical agricultural roles.

Every woman who steps into these roles sends a powerful message: women are shaping the future of the palm oil industry, and these possibilities belong to them too.

Progressing Towards a Safer and Dignified Future

Mechanisation is not only about investing in productivity. It is about investing in our people and unlocking their potential.

Innovations such as drone-enabled spraying and automated fertiliser spreaders reduce the risk of direct chemical exposure, significantly improving health and wellbeing of women workers.

At the same time, new tools and technologies bring training, professional growth and career pathways that enable women to earn more, learn more and lead more.

For us, this is what actual progress looks like. Not simply deploying machines in the field but cultivating the growth and confidence of our people empowered to use them.

The Road Ahead

As we commemorate International Women’s Day, we celebrate more than the presence of women in our workforce. We celebrate their rising influence and contribution in shaping our future.

The future of palm oil is not defined solely by what we produce, but by who helps build it.

Mechanisation may open doors, but it takes courage, determination and talent for women to walk through them.

At Wilmar, we are proud to invest in women’s potential. Proud to witness their growth and journey. Proud to cultivate a culture where progress is shared – and where every woman in our workforce has the opportunity to thrive, lead and inspire.