KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 11): Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johani Abdul Ghani said his ministry is considering incorporating oil palm fruit bunches harvesting into technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign labour.

He said the persistent issue of labour shortage in the palm oil industry had resulted in production losses and low yields, and this restrained palm oil production from reaching full potential in 2022 and 2023.

“For instance, the freeze on the hiring of foreign workers resulted in a shortage of 55,000 workers in the palm oil sector in December 2022. So, the government is going to embark on TVET, specifically designed to train locals in harvesting. I am sure there are a lot of people who can be trained in our TVET stream," Johari said when officiating at the Palm Oil Economic Review and Outlook Seminar 2024 on Thursday.

“Maybe we can start with a small group first, such as recruiting 40 to 50 individuals in one class, then get the industry experts in [the] palm oil industry, such as the MPOB (Malaysian Palm Oil Board), to teach them how to harvest all kinds of palm trees.

“If successful, our citizens can engage in harvesting, even those who are currently unemployed,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Johari is optimistic about the outlook for the palm oil market, fuelled by expectations of robust palm oil demand from key export destinations, such as India, China and the European Union.

The demand is further supported by interests in replenishing stocks to ensure food security and the overall viability of business activities, he said.

“Global demand for palm oil escalated with the reopening of borders and recovery of economic sectors, which boosted consumption in the importing countries, both for the food and non-food based industries.

“The Malaysian palm oil industry continues to exert significant influence on the global oils and fats market — which is becoming increasingly competitive. This comes at a time when we are dealing with substantial challenges, both domestically and globally, such as unpredictable weather conditions, environmental considerations, and geopolitical unrest,” Johari added.

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