Enhancing Local Labour Productivity in Oil Palm Agriculture

Abstract

The palm oil industry in Malaysia, particularly in Sarawak, faces labour shortages due to restrictions imposed by the government. As a result, local workers are required to perform tasks that were previously carried out by foreign labourers. This study aims to identify the productivity of local labour among Smallholders (PKS) in Serian, Sarawak. A total of 56 respondents were selected as samples using purposive sampling methods. The selected respondents are PKS who employ local labour for their plantations. The study found that the local labour used comprises family members, relatives, and villagers. No local labour from outside the area was employed. The types of tasks performed include tapping trees, fertilizing, pruning, harvesting fruit, collecting fruit, loading fruit into trucks, and driving trucks. In terms of Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) production, the number of FFB produced per ton per month is mostly between 1 to 2 tons per 1 to 2 acres of oil palm plantation, which equals 12 tons per acre per year. This yield is relatively high compared to the national average for smallholders, which is 8 tons per acre per year. The implication of this study is that effective strategies should be developed involving the MPOB (Malaysian Palm Oil Board) and PKS to encourage more local people to work in the industry, so that the palm oil sector does not continue to rely on foreign labour.