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Malaysian palm oil farmers are facing a labor shortage

#Malaysian #palm #oil #farmers #facing #labor #shortage

Overripe oil palm pods hang untouched in trees while others lie strewn rotting on a plantation as Malaysian farmers reap the bitter harvest of severe labor shortages.

The tropical country is the world’s second largest producer of the edible vegetable oil, which is found in many everyday goods from chocolate to cosmetics.

The sector has long relied on migrants from neighboring Indonesia to do the backbreaking work on the plantations, something shunned by most in wealthier Malaysia.

Protracted Covid-related border closures had already reduced the number of foreign workers, but now bureaucratic hurdles and an Indonesian ban on sending new workers have dramatically exacerbated problems.

“A lot of fruit clusters are rotting on the trees,” Suzaidee Rajan, 47, who owns a 120-hectare plantation in Ijok in central Selangor state, told AFP.

“We usually harvest twice a month. But now we can only (do) once a month due to labor shortage. Our income has gone down and the locals are angry.”

With only four foreign workers – two fewer than necessary – Suzaidee now has to drive to his plantation and load the fruit onto a truck himself.

Palm oil is a controversial commodity accused by environmentalists of driving the destruction of rainforests in Malaysia and Indonesia, which together produce 85 percent of the world’s production.

Green groups say the rapid expansion of plantations has destroyed the habitats of rare animals, while there have been allegations that foreign workers have been abused and mistreated on some estates.

Nonetheless, the sector continues to be an important contributor to the Malaysian economy and continues to attract foreign workers who can earn higher wages than at home.

Agricultural companies cultivate large areas of land, and there are also numerous small farmers such as Suzaidee.

– “Darkness on the Horizon” –

Other Malaysian industries, including construction and manufacturing, also rely on migrant workers from across Asia and have suffered from the pandemic’s protracted border closures.

While authorities ended a hiring freeze on foreigners in February, workers were slow to return due to bureaucracy and difficult negotiations with countries of origin.

However, problems in the plantation sector have been particularly acute and are likely to worsen after Indonesia banned sending new workers to Malaysia earlier this month.

Hermono – Indonesia’s ambassador to Kuala Lumpur, who is known by one name – said Jakarta made the decision as Malaysia failed to honor an agreement to protect its compatriots.

According to the Malaysian Landowners Association, there is currently a shortage of around 120,000 workers.

And this month Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, who oversees the plantation sector, said the industry lost 10.46 billion ringgit ($2.35 billion) in the first five months of 2022 because oil palm fruits were not harvested.

“I only see darkness on the horizon unless migrant workers are brought into the country immediately,” farmer Sahman Duriat, who has a plantation in Ijok, told AFP.

“My income is falling while inflation and production costs are rising.”

After Indonesia’s ban was announced, Malaysia’s Human Resources Ministry pledged to quickly address Jakarta’s concerns to ensure it is rolled back.

There is now much more to do for Indonesian plantation workers who are still in Malaysia.

“We normally work in a group of five … but now it’s just the two of us,” said Zan, who goes by one name, while cutting fruit from a tree while a second man loaded it into a wheelbarrow.

“We harvest 200 tons a month with five people, but now only 80 tons with just two of us.”

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