MPOA: REVENUE LOSSES FROM LABOUR SHORTAGE AT RM20BILLION

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) is continuing its efforts to engage the Malaysian government, currently headed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to resolve the chronic labour shortage issue that has been plaguing the palm oil industry, especially since the onset of the lockdowns in 2020.

MPOA chief executive Joseph Tek Choon Yee, speaking at the association’s National Labour Forum (NLF) 2022 yesterday, pointed out that revenue losses due to the shortage of oil palm harvesters is estimated to be about RM20bil.

Additionally, Tek said a survey on foreign workers has been carried out by MPOA which derived data from its top 10 planter members from January to November this year covering the recruitment and entry of foreign workers into Peninsular Malaysia for the plantation sector.

The survey summarised that as of Nov 30, 14,159 foreign workers have been recruited and entered the country. There were 6,837 of these workers for the plantation sector that came from Indonesia, another 6,532 entered the country from India, 730 were from Nepal and 60 were from Bangladesh. “While this represents 49% of the 28,724 foreign workers that were approved by the authorities, it is only 19% of the total foreign workers required for 2022, which is 74,664,” he revealed.

The planter members of the MPOA include heavyweights such as IOI Corp Bhd , Sime Darby Plantation Bhd , Genting Plantations Bhd and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd. Tek commented that the