JAKARTA / Indonesia, 24 June 2025: In a significant step toward acknowledging corporate initiatives to combat child labour in agriculture, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Partnership for Action Against Child Labour in Agriculture (PAACLA) honoured seven agricultural companies and the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) at a special ceremony held in Jakarta.
Held at the Aryaduta Hotel on June 12, the event coincided with World Day Against Child Labour and the 75th anniversary of Indonesia's membership in the ILO. The event was jointly hosted by PAACLA, the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), the Ministry of Manpower, and supported by the ILO’s Realizing Trade Gains Free from Gender Discrimination and Child Labour (RealGains) Project, funded by the Government of Canada.
The awarded companies—PT Alliance One Indonesia, Universal PT Tempo Rejo, PT Findora Internusa, PT Mars Symbioscience Indonesia, PT Minarmas Plantation, UD Saka Mandiri, and PT Cargill Indonesia—were recognized for their concrete actions to eliminate child labour in their operations and supply chains. GAPKI received a special award for its leadership in promoting child-friendly palm oil practices, including the 2021 launch of its Child-Friendly Indonesian Palm Oil Guide.
Strengthening Laws and Partnerships
Indonesia’s long-standing efforts to eliminate child labour were also spotlighted. The nation ratified ILO Convention No. 138 on minimum working age through Law No. 20 of 1999, and ILO Convention No. 182 on eliminating the worst forms of child labour through Law No. 1 of 2000.
Yuli Adiratna, Director of Labor Norms Inspection at the Ministry of Manpower, emphasized: “To achieve Golden Indonesia 2045, we must protect our children today. Technology and responsible business must go hand-in-hand to ensure no child is trapped in labour.”
ILO Country Director Simrin Singh cited findings from the 2024 ILO-UNICEF report, stating that 138 million children globally are still engaged in child labour, with agriculture accounting for 61%. Yet, the Asia-Pacific region has made notable progress—reducing child labour prevalence from 5.6% in 2020 to 3.1% in 2024.
Children Speak Out
A poignant moment came when Gesyha Ayundya Zilfana, 15, from East Java’s tobacco-growing Kesilir Village, took the stage representing the Children’s Forum. “Even one case of child labour is too many. We cannot turn a blind eye,” she declared. “As Indonesia progresses, its children must progress too.”
The event also hosted a panel featuring representatives from the Ministry of Human Rights, Global Compact Network Indonesia, Children’s Forum, and ILO, who discussed dismantling cultural norms, supporting education, enhancing family incomes, and increasing awareness of children’s rights.
A Step Toward Responsible Agribusiness
With these recognitions, PAACLA and ILO hope to strengthen momentum for responsible agribusiness and encourage more stakeholders to adopt ethical, inclusive, and sustainable practices in farming.
The awards mark a significant stride in acknowledging corporate accountability and reinforcing collaborative efforts to eliminate child labour across Indonesia’s agricultural heartlands.
