MELAKA – The Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry is working to obtain a government exemption to the freeze in hiring foreign labour, so as to secure 20,000 workers.
Minister Datuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said this is important in view of the plantation and commodity sector being the largest to depend on foreign labour.
“We have obtained an in-principle approval to get foreign workers for the oil palm sector, and will negotiate to secure foreign workers for the timber sector as well,” he told reporters after attending a dialogue session as part of the Jerayawara Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) 2021 roadshow here today.
Present were MTC chairman Mazli Zakuan Mohd Noor and Melaka Agriculture, Agro-Based Industry, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee chairman Datuk Nohizam Hassan Baktee.
To alleviate the labour shortage in the timber sector, said Khairuddin, the ministry has provided various incentives, as well as training, to attract local workers.
He said the timber sector’s adoption of automation and digitalisation appears to be the best move to reduce dependence on foreign labour.
“As the third-largest commodity sub-sector after oil palm and rubber, the timber sector faces various challenges, including those related to the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Covid-19 pandemic.
“MTC has set aside RM2.8 million out of its RM28.3 million development fund to assist in the sector’s operational transformation.” – Bernama, May 6, 2021
