Oil Palm Industry In Sarawak Almost Collapsing?

 Antara sebab ekonomi negara makin meleset, tak ada peluang pekerjaan, tak ada duit, tak ada duit yang "rolling" dalam ekonomi negara, ekspot kurang, Ringgit jadi lemah, hasil cukai Kerajaan terjejas dan banyak lagi lah.  

KUCHING (July 11): Sarawak’s palm oil industry brink of collapse 

crippling labour shortage, restrictions of Covid SOPs 

Labour shortage perennial problem 

refineries, oil palm estates, smallholders depend heavily on foreign workers

recruiting foreign workers always a hassle 

industry suffering unprecedented decline in productivity 

Sabah, Sarawak collected 15.246 million tonnes FFB from Jan - May 2021

drop of 970,350 tonnes (6%) from same period in 2020

FFB prices increased from RM516/tonne (2020) to RM802.71 this year

freeze on intake of foreign workers since 1st MCO in March 18, 2020

Indonesian govt not reopened borders yet, stopping workers going overseas

Indonesian govt does not encourage citizens to work overseas

M'sian Federal govt yet to approve foreign workers 

Sarawak govt announced to allow foreign workers 

shortage of 31,021 harvesters 

labour shortage getting worse, resulting in production losses

production loss of 3.4 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO) 

labour shortage may widen to 20% 

peak production period second half of the year

tedious steps to bring foreign workers into Sarawak 

First apply for approval in principle (AP) 

Then apply for labour licence under the AP 

Then apply for calling visa (CV) and mytravel pass 

When CV approved, then apply for ‘myentersarawak’ 

Upon arrival new workers issued 30-day special pass

Then quarantine by Ministry of Health for 14 days

then endorsement of working visa 

All these additional costs borne by palm oil companies 

immigration offices in Malaysia closed during MCO

some not received approvals since 1st MCO (in 2020)

local immigration remains locked by federal 

immigration depts closed during MCO period

documents cannot be submitted, may expire or become invalid 

“Everything is at a standstill.”

foreign workers make up 80% in field operations 

acute workers shortage in Sarawak similar to Peninsular Malaysia 

foreign workers willing to work in tough conditions 

palm oil industry has no options but to hire foreign workers 

suggest govt relax requirements to bring in foreign workers 

palm oil sustainable and ‘life saver’ even in global pandemic and recession 

 

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