IOI Corporation Berhad (IOI), a leading global integrated and sustainable palm oil player listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, was placed in the Leader category, based on a study “The State of Children’s Rights and Business 2020 Southeast Asia” conducted by Global Child Forum (GCF).

The GCF study ascertained that IOI has developed and implemented several policies and practices that address our organisation’s impact on children’s rights across several important areas including taking concrete steps to move beyond policies and embedding children’s rights into company practice, following-up through monitoring, transparent reporting and programmes to create action for children’s rights.

GCF is a leading independent non-profit forum for children’s rights. Founded in 2009 by the Swedish Royal Family, GCF gathers leaders from governments, private sector, academia, and civil societies to promote cross-sector partnerships as well as to promote the sharing of knowledge and best practices in its efforts to achieve and strengthen children’s rights.

According to the study by the GCF in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group, IOI received a benchmark score of 8.1 in the Food, Beverage & Personal Care sector. This regional study covers six countries, eight sectors and assesses companies against 27 indicators. IOI was among 232 corporations in Southeast Asia which were scored on how it addresses children’s rights in three pillars. It scored 9.4 out of 10 in the workplace for its decent work for young workers, parents, and caregivers in the prevention of child labour, and was given 7.2 for its community and environmental impacts.

IOI Group Head of Sustainability Dr Surina Ismail said that the company has been supporting the establishment and operations of learning centers and daycare facilities for workers’ children by offering learning centers, namely Humana And Community Learning Centers (CLC) which targets the children of workers at school age level and prevents them from accompanying their parents onto the estates for work. Among its concrete programmes include protecting children’s rights, advancing the education of migrant children who are not registered in the system, and creating a positive impact in children’s lives. She added: “Children are our future. Our workers have the same ideals and want as we do, and it’s important to recognise that.”

IOI was also benchmarked in 2016 and showed the highest increase in score among the companies in the Food, Beverage & Personal Care sector that were benchmarked both in 2016 and 2020.

From the perspective of Governance, IOI has a Group Sustainability Steering Committee in place that reports directly to the Board to ensure that IOI embeds all its sustainability commitments within the economic, environmental, and social considerations underpinning the Group’s operations.

For the full report of The State of Children's Rights and Business in Southeast Asia 2020, click here.

For the Press Release in PDF, click here.