Incorporate palm oil harvesting into TVET programmes to address labour shortage in sector - Johari
11.01.2024 (New Straits Times) - KUALA LUMPUR: The Plantations and Commodities Ministry is considering incorporating palm oil harvesting into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to address labour shortages in the sector.
Its minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said this would address the issue of insufficient harvesting in oil palm plantations, leading to the industry incurring billions of ringgit in losses due to unharvested palms.
"We have 5.67 million hectares of oil palm-planted areas in Malaysia but we do not have enough harvesters, so we can introduce a TVET programme for harvesters, which can be conducted by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
"It is time to elevate harvesters as a profession in Malaysia. This industry is significant, so it is crucial to ensure that these individuals will be regarded as professionals in harvesting," he said when met by reporters after officiating the 2024 Palm Oil Economic Review and Outlook Seminar.
Also present were deputy minister, Datuk Chan Foong Hin, secretary-general Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli and Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) director-general Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha.
Johari, who is also the Titiwangsa member of Parliament said this suggestion has been raised with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"Perhaps he (Zahid) can start with a small group and train around 40 to 50 individuals in one class. Then, enlist industry experts from MPOB to teach them how to harvest palms of various heights – low, medium, and tall.
"If it is low and medium-sized, we can produce many of those breeds that we want through research and development.
"If successful, our citizens can engage in harvesting, even those who are currently unemployed," he said, adding that he will request MPOB to conduct research and development to ensure our palm trees do not grow excessively tall.
He expressed the need for local harvesters but emphasised that industry players cannot expect to pay them wages comparable to those of foreign workers.
When questioned about salary ranges, Johari mentioned he is considering a range of RM3,000 to RM4,000, excluding incentives.
He suggested a commission-based incentive system, similar to marketing, where workers could benefit more based on the quantity they harvest.
"I am looking at maybe RM3,000 to RM4,000, plus incentives. If they pick more, there could be additional incentives, similar to the marketing sector where you have a basic salary and earn more through commission based on performance," he added.
Earlier in his keynote address, the minister said the government has proposed expanding the scope of automation tax incentives to include the plantation sector, in order to reduce labour dependence through mechanisation and automation.
"With the mechanisation that MPOB is implementing, it should help address the labour shortage. That is what I am trying to stress so this industry will not rely on foreign workers indefinitely," he said, adding that the transition towards automation and mechanisation is now a necessity given the high dependence on foreign workers.