AreaMalaysia
Commodity GroupOilseeds, oils and meals
CommodityOil-palm
Date01/11/2020
Policy CategoryOther
Policy InstrumentLabour policies
DescriptionOpened a six-and-a-half month window to regularize undocumented foreign migrants so as to address labour shortages in certain sectors, notably the countrys plantation industry, where chronic lack of manpower was aggravated by travel restrictions introduced in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
NotesMALAYSIA migrant labour policies: In November, the Government opened a six-and-a-half month window to regularize undocumented foreign migrants, with a view to address chronic labour shortages in certain sectors that have been aggravated by travel restrictions introduced in the wake of the COVID-19 crises. The countrys plantation industry is among the sectors most affected by manpower shortages (see also MPPU Sep./Nov.20). The Malaysian Palm Oil Board and the sectors Palm Oil Association welcomed the Governments initiative, confirming that the move would help plantation owners deal with the acute lack of labour force provided the newly regularized workers possessed the required skills or received appropriate training. Industry stakeholders are waiting to see the details of the regularization programme.
