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Cry for solution to plantation manpower shortage

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KUCHING: The Sarawak and federal governments are urged to come up with urgent solutions to resolve the acute shortage of harvesters and loaders faced by oil palm estates in the state.

Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (Soppoa) said any delay would only further jeopardise the survival of the industry.

This would affect the livelihood of thousands of farmers and families who depend on the industry, said a Soppoa spokesman.

“The state is the hardest hit in terms of shortage of workers,” he said adding that the problem was further compounded by the worsening Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the pandemic, the government had banned entry of foreign workers into the state.

“Before the movement control order, Sarawak only allow hiring of Indonesian workers for the industry. In Peninsular and Sabah, other nationalities are allowed to be employed in the plantation sector.”

He insisted that the shortage was critical and only the government could assist the industry in this time of need.

“The industry has promoted through the media/posters to attract locals to join in the plantation workforce. However, most are only keen in joining service-related jobs such as drivers, junior managers, staff and technicians. The majority refused to take up harvester and loader jobs.

“With the persistence shortage of manpower, particularly now when the industry is expanding with more areas in maturing phase and additional areas continue to be developed by smallholders, the industry would be in a fixed position.”

He said in light of the Covid-19 situation, the industry was willing to work with the government to ensure that new recruits would be first tested before being allowed into the state.

All costs, including the quarantine stay and Covid-19 test, would be borne by the employers.

The spokesman said the palm oil industry had continued to operate as efficiently as possible during the pandemic and had adhered to the strict guidelines and standard operating procedure imposed for workers in estates and mills.

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