In Malaysia, amid concerns of a potential 40% decrease in vegetable production due to escalating market prices and a labor shortage, the managing director of a hypermarket chain has challenged vegetable farmers over their reasoning for price increases. Ameer Ali Mydin emphasized that the labor supply should be adequate, highlighting the government's prior approval for a significant number of foreign worker recruitments for the plantation sector.
Despite a temporary suspension, Ali Mydin pointed out that the allowance of many foreign workers in previous years negates the industry's argument of a labor deficit. This statement comes in the wake of a report predicting a surge in market prices next month, linked to the expected drop in vegetable supply.
Furthermore, the home minister, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, had marked March 31 as the deadline for foreign worker employment under the Labour Recalibration Programme 2.0, with 20,970 foreign workers approved as of March 18 last year. Contrarily, the Malaysian Federation of Vegetable Farmers Association anticipates worsening conditions, despite the government's efforts.
Source: freemalaysiatoday.com