Oil and Oppression: Women’s Struggles in the Palm Oil Industry
By Nisha Kumaravel
March 2025 FEATURE
*Names changed to protect identities.
PALM OIL IS the lifeblood of Malaysia’s economy, contributing USD37.4bil in exports in 2022 alone.[1] This supports a wide range of industries, from food production to cosmetics, and the sector employs over 391,000 foreign workers, of which 74% are from Indonesia.[2] However, this prosperity is frequently built upon the exploitation of underpaid, overworked and often overlooked workers, particularly women. The latter group tend to face unsafe conditions, wage theft, and relentless physical and emotional demands.[3]
Malaysia’s palm oil industry is the second-largest in the world, producing 31% of the global total of 87.39 million tonnes in 2022, accounting for 49% of palm oil exports.[4] However, the wealth generated rarely reaches the workers who sustain the industry. This deeply rooted issue can be traced back to the colonial era, when large-scale plantations were established to meet global demand, relying on imported South Asian labour.[5][6]
Women in Malaysia’s Plantations
*Kavitha’s Struggle with Workplace Hazards
Kavitha’s work on a palm oil plantation is physically demanding and incessant. Her day begins at sunrise, hauling heavy sacks of palm fruit under the oppressive tropical heat. Workers like her endure constant exposure to the chemicals used to maintain the crops, with little to no protective gear provided. Safety briefings are non-existent, and the risks are downplayed by management.
One morning, Kavitha’s skin began to burn and her chest tighten after working near a field freshly sprayed with chemicals. Reporting her symptoms to her supervisor yielded no action. He dismissed her complaints as “mild” and reminded her that meeting production targets was more important. With no financial support for medical care, she was forced to rely on home remedies and endure the discomfort.
Over time, her health declined, with persistent respiratory issues making her daily tasks even harder. But leaving the job was not an option. Speaking out could lead to dismissal, and the lack of union representation leaves workers powerless.
*Meenakshi’s Battle with Harassment and Abuse
Meenakshi was the target of harassment by her supervisor since the first week of work. Unwelcome remarks and subtle threats escalated into her being assigned the most grueling tasks. The male-dominated environment left her isolated, with few allies willing to intervene.
When Meenakshi rejected her supervisor’s advances, the retaliation became more overt. She was publicly humiliated during team meetings and frequently sent to work in dangerous areas. The plantation’s complaint system was little more than a formality. Previous cases had resulted in workers losing their jobs or facing social ostracism.
Meenakshi considered contacting outside organisations for help, but feared repercussions. Many women who speak out against such treatment find themselves blacklisted, with no means to support their families. Without systemic reform and enforcement of workplace protections, her story remains all too common among women in the palm oil industry.
*Siti’s Descent from Hope to Despair
Siti left her home in Indonesia with the hope of providing a better future for herself and her family. She was promised a stable and well-paying job on a plantation in Malaysia. However, the reality she encountered was far from the promises made to her. Trapped in a cycle of debt, Siti was forced to pay the recruiter who had arranged her travel and accommodation with her wages. All the salary she earned went toward clearing the debt, leaving her with nothing for herself or her loved ones.
The financial strain took a heavy toll on Siti’s mental health. Anxiety and depression became constant companions as she struggled to find any sense of hope in her situation. The oppressive atmosphere of the plantation drained her motivation, and the dream of a better future slowly faded.
Legal and Policy Reforms: Where Do They Fall Short?
Legal reforms such as the Employment Act[7] and the Occupational Safety and Health Act[8] (OSHA) in Malaysia have made strides in improving workers’ rights and safety. However, these laws often fall short due to poor enforcement and loopholes. For example, while the Employment Act sets limits on working hours and provides for basic benefits, many plantation workers, particularly women, are excluded due to their employment status as “temporary” or “contract” workers. Additionally, although OSHA mandates safety measures, enforcement is weak, and violations are rarely addressed, leaving workers vulnerable to unsafe conditions. The lack of stringent inspections and penalties allows exploitative practices to persist, undermining the intent of these reforms.
Debt bondage, a practice supposedly outlawed, remains rampant, perpetuated by recruitment agents and plantation managers exploiting enforcement gaps. Despite minimum wage laws, unlawful deductions and exploitative practices leave plantation workers struggling to make ends meet. The economic precarity extends beyond wages—plantation workers often live in employer-provided housing, usually cramped quarters shared by multiple families. Access to clean water is a luxury, and medical facilities are often several hours away.
This lack of infrastructure contributes to health risks, including increased exposure to infectious diseases.[9] Furthermore, the remote locations of many plantations mean that access to medical facilities is limited, often requiring several hours of travel. This isolation exacerbates the challenges workers face in obtaining necessary healthcare services.[10]
Children of plantation workers have limited access to education and healthcare. A UNICEF report focusing on Sabah highlights that approximately 30% of children in the study were engaged in work to support their families, with 61% of these children employed in plantations.[11] This involvement in labour not only hinders their educational opportunities, but also perpetuates cycles of poverty. The lack of formal education among parents, particularly those working in plantations, correlates with higher rates of children being out of school. This situation diminishes prospects for upward mobility for future generations.
A Way Forward: Building a Just System
Strict enforcement of labour laws to combat exploitative practices in the palm oil industry involves not only enacting robust legislation, but also ensuring that these laws are rigorously implemented and monitored. Regular audits of plantations, combined with substantial penalties for non-compliance, are critical to deterring violations and ensuring accountability. By creating mechanisms for workers to report abuses safely and confidentially, the government can further strengthen their commitment to protecting labour rights.
Education also plays a vital role in empowering women workers to understand and assert their rights. Comprehensive training programmes enable women to recognise exploitative practices and navigate the channels available to seek redress. Trade unions must prioritise amplifying female representation within their ranks, creating platforms where women’s perspectives shape workplace policies and decision-making processes. Grassroots organisations can complement these efforts by offering targeted training and advocacy programmes, equipping workers with the knowledge and confidence they need to demand fair treatment and systemic reforms.
Public support is a powerful driver of systemic change. Media campaigns and educational initiatives can raise awareness of the struggles faced by plantation workers, encouraging consumers to demand ethically sourced products. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can amplify these efforts by exposing exploitative practices and advocating for reforms at both local and global levels. Consumers, too, have a pivotal role to play; by making informed choices and actively supporting ethical brands, they can send a strong message to companies that exploitative practices will not be tolerated.
Footnotes
[1] https://gapki.id/en/news/2024/02/12/feature-expecting-special-palm-oil-board-from-the-next-govt/
[2] https://prestasisawit.mpob.gov.my/en/palmnews/news/34416
[3] https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/eliminating-vulnerabilityfemale-workers-exploitation-palm-oil-and
[5] https://wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/oilpalmchainpartaandb_esri.pdf
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii
[9] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6820316/
[10] https://finnwatch.org/en/publications/migrant-workers-rights-in-oil-palm-estates-in-malaysia
Nisha Kumaravel
is a licensed counselor, communications specialist and project coordinator, advocating for labour and farmer's rights, as well as agricultural and political reform. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and caring for her 13 unruly cats.
