Johari: Malaysia ensures sufficient workforce for palm oil plantations

The Plantation and Commodities Ministry is committed to ensuring that all oil palm plantations have sufficient manpower, says its minister, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

He said as the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, Malaysia ensures stable production remains unaffected.

Johari said commodity prices cannot be set by any party because they depend on supply and demand factors.

“If demand is high and production is low, prices will rise. Conversely, if there is excessive production but insufficient demand, prices will decrease.

“One key factor is ensuring that plantations have an adequate workforce. Without sufficient workers, ripe fruits will remain unharvested, affecting our ability to maximise output,” he said during the ministers’ question time in Dewan Rakyat today.

Johari was responding to a supplementary question from Edwin Banta (GPS–Selangau) regarding measures taken to address the decline in commodity prices, particularly for palm oil, and strategies to stabilise prices, increase demand and explore new markets.

He added that both large plantations and smallholders have used high-quality planting materials and adopted good agricultural practices to boost yields.

On the issue of foreign workers in the plantation sector, Johari said the ministry continues to work closely with the Home Ministry and the Labour Department to ensure that all foreign worker recruitments comply with International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards.

He said the government, too, remains highly committed to addressing issues related to foreign workers, including their welfare and wellbeing.

“Malaysia officially ratified the ILO’s Forced Labour Convention, also known as Protocol 29, on March 21, 2022 as part of its efforts to combat forced labour in the country.

“The government is also dedicated to adhering to the 11 forced labour indicators established by the ILO,” said the Titiwangsa member of parliament.

To protect workers and ensure they receive fair treatment, Johari said several mechanisms to allow workers to file complaints, particularly concerning forced labour, exploitation and violations of workers’ rights, were established.

He said plantation companies are now required to obtain the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification, ensuring compliance with conditions and criteria.

Tags: prices, Production, Malaysia, yields, demand, workers, oil palm plantations