Consider workers from Pakistan, India, commodities and plantation industry players told

KUALA LUMPUR: Commodities and plantation industry players have been told to consider hiring workers from Pakistan and India to fill the shortages in their respective sectors, says Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin.

This is to reduce reliance on workers from Indonesia and Bangladesh, she added.

"Based on the report shared by the Human Resources Ministry, I see that there is potential to hire workers from Pakistan to work in the plantation sector.

"They can also look at India, so we do not over rely on the Indonesian and Bangladesh market," she told a press conference at the Malaysia International Agricommodity Expo and Summit 2022 (Miaces) here on Tuesday (July 26).

Organised by the Commodities and Plantation Industry Ministry, the three-day event will see policy-makers, experts and academicians gathering to share and discuss ideas related to the industry.

Asked to comment on the issue of salary of workers in the plantation industry, she said that the rate was more than sufficient.

"In the industry, we have set the best income rate between RM2,000 and RM2,500.

"So there is no issue about income.

Salaries for the palm oil industry are higher," she added.

The Cabinet had agreed to increase the minimum wage to RM1,500 effective May 1.