Kuala Terengganu, 26 January 2022 – TDM Berhad (“TDM” or “the Group”) is committed to offering employment opportunities to Malaysian workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as nurturing and upskilling local talents. Given its mandate to generate economic opportunities, the Group prioritises locals over foreigners for employment, particularly in the less developed East Coast Region of Peninsular Malaysia, following its plan to reduce dependency on foreign workers.
For the past few years, TDM, through its plantation subsidiary TDM Plantation Sdn. Bhd. (TDMP), has been focusing on its recruitment drive to employ locals, especially among the communities where its businesses operate and exist in. This effort is ramped up even more since the pandemic to assist those whose livelihoods are affected by the global pandemic and overcome the rise to workforce issues following the closure of Malaysia’s borders.
TDM Executive Director Haji Najman Kamaruddin said, “Our Plantation business has always faced difficulties in attracting locals given its dirty, dangerous, difficult, and demeaning (4D) job nature. We are well aware of the increasing lack of interest among Malaysians, especially the younger generation, to take up job opportunities available in this industry. Despite the circumstance, as a responsible company, we will continue to encourage and give priority to the local people, especially now that the closure of Malaysia’s borders has come into effect, precluding the recruitment of foreign workers.”
To minimise disruptions in harvesting, TDMP turns to mechanisation and, at the same time, increases its outreach programmes to local communities in search of semi-skilled labours capable of operating mechanised equipment. TDMP has also conducted various recruitment campaigns throughout the years, including installing banners in strategic locations, handing out leaflets advertising job opportunities at its estates and collaborating with the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) to gather a bigger workforce pool. To date, TDMP managed to hire 1,422 local workers consisting of semi-skilled machine operators, harvesters, and general workers across its 13 estates in Terengganu.
“Throughout these unprecedented times, we strive not only to provide job security to our employees and workers but also to continually extend job opportunities and stable incomes to the local workforce. This commitment directly sustains our plantation business and at the same time enables our community to survive and thrive in the new economic landscape,” he added.
TDMP Chief Executive Officer En. Hamdan Ibrahim shared that that TDMP emphasises on developing semi-skilled workers from local communities not only to meet the current demands at its estates but also to improve their current situation and provide these people with the opportunity to build new lives for their families.
“According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Terengganu’s unemployment rate stood at 4.1 per cent with 705,000 unemployed persons in the second quarter of year 2021 compared to 4.1 percent or 19,800 individuals in 2020, a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and many rounds of the Movement Control Order (MCO). We want to make sure that these figures reach a downward trend and many more locals are getting hired.”
TDMP has reviewed its remuneration plan and diversified its offering to attract and retain local hires. On top of training, accommodation and medical facilities, the company offers numerous attractive benefits such as competitive salary packages, incentive payments, EPF and SOCSO contributions, annual leave, allowances and transportation to school for children as well as other working incentives to its estate workers. The company also opts for the usage of mechanical machines and tools for harvesting, infield fresh fruit bunches (FFB) evacuation and crop care and field maintenance, which will be a key factor in improving the efficiency of TDMP oil palm plantations.
“With the new remuneration plan and having achieved the goals set, some of our harvesters managed to bring home RM3,000 – RM4,000 worth of salary even within a few months of joining. This is a clear indication that the job opportunities we offer can provide sustainable incomes even in this pandemic, and we hope to see more locals taking them.”
“For many years, TDMP has provided livelihoods, built facilities and established communities in the areas across our business units. The company has also witnessed many individuals successfully transforming their lives for the better, building families and climbing the career ladder. We wish to continue doing the same, regardless of the situation that we are in, this year and many more years to come,” added En. Hamdan.
TDMP is currently looking at hiring 800 more local workers for its 13 estates across Terengganu. For more information about this opportunity, please contact En. Muhamad Shawal Endut from TDMP Operation Department at 09-6204800 or visit your nearest TDMP estate.
