THE Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) suggested stakeholders speed up the arrival of foreign workers to address the labour shortage at oil palm plantations in the country.

MPC director-general Abdul Latif Abu Seman said the 32,000 field workers from Indonesia must be brought in soon as there is not enough manpower to carry out harvesting work at plantations after borders were closed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The oil palm plantation sector incurred RM21 billion in losses in 2021 due to a shortage of foreign labour, and is expected to incur RM28 billion in losses this year if foreign workers are not immediately brought in.

The sector also saw a 4.4% decline in export in the fourth quarter of last year due to the local and foreign labour shortage.

“The hiring process for foreign workers must be complete and efficient. It must be switched to a fully digitalised platform without any human interference,” said Latif in a statement today.

As for long-term intervention, the government and plantation owners are urged to cooperate in continuing the funding for the reskilling and upskilling programme, especially for local workers.

“The development and empowerment of local workers must be given full emphasis as they hold higher level positions, such as office workers and plantation managers,” said Latif.

“Subsidy provisions for the right educational programmes on oil palm plantation must also be given priority.”

He said government programmes must involve elements of good-thinking and perception, and an understanding of the sector.

Automation and mechanisation initiatives must also be emphasised to attract more locals to the sector, he added. – Bernama, May 23, 2022.