Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
East Malaysia Planters Association (Empa) chairman Salim Mohamad said this
had resulted in rising labour costs.
<p>He said that large-scale plantations in Kalimantan provided job opportunities
for Indonesians, causing manpower woes in the oil palm industry in Sabah and
Sarawak.</p>
<p>Salim told Bernama that the problem was first felt last year but the effects
were more pronounced now.</p>
<p>"We’ve been overly dependent on Indonesian workers who account for up
to 90 per cent of our plantation workers," he added.</p>
<p>Empa, he said, welcomed suggestions that plantation owners should take care
of their workers, including by providing housing, water and electricity supply
as well as addressing health and education issues.</p>
<p>Such measures could pique the interest of the locals to get involved in the
oil palm sector which is among the biggest contributors to the state’s economy,
said Salim.</p>
<p>He also said that the use of machinery as a means to overcome labour shortages
had not caught on due to cost constraints.</p>
<p>– BERNAMA</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=261023</i>
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