Latest news with #MPIC


The Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Johari: Hire local TVET grads or no foreign workers for plantations
KUALA KANGSAR: The Plantation and Commodities Ministry (MPIC) has mandated that plantation industry players must first hire graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes before considering the employment of foreign workers. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said industry players must provide proof of their efforts to hire TVET graduates to the ministry before they are permitted to recruit foreign workers. 'We are currently facing a situation where many industries are unwilling to hire graduates who have completed their training. They are reluctant to provide these students with the opportunity to gain practical experience because they prefer to take the easier route. 'Although the government has approved foreign workers for the plantation sector, I will not allow it unless industry players contribute to our local youth,' he said when met at the Dialog@MPIC session here today. Johari said the ministry will train about 250 TVET students annually in the plantation sector, and they will be placed in the industry based on the specific needs of the industry players. He said industry players must train these students until they become skilled and future specialists in the plantation sector. 'I want to commend Sime Darby and FGV for their dedicated initiatives to provide accommodation and decent salaries for young individuals who did not attend university. These youths can earn a salary of RM2,500 if they develop their skills and complete a TVET Level 3 qualification, and in another eight months, they could earn up to RM3,500. '...we must support these students in developing their careers. Otherwise, we're abandoning these youths, and that's not what we promised. Some industry players even refuse to hire them, and that's why I want to enforce this prerequisite. Currently, we depend on nearly 260,000 foreign workers to manage our plantations,' he said. Johari said the sector is vital as it represents the world's third-largest export industry, and within the national commodity sector, Malaysia exports approximately RM168 billion. He emphasised the need for industry players to take responsibility for mentoring and supporting these young talents.


The Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Plantation firms must hire TVET grads before foreign workers
KUALA KANGSAR: The Plantation and Commodities Ministry (MPIC) has mandated that plantation industry players must first hire graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes before considering the employment of foreign workers. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said industry players must provide proof of their efforts to hire TVET graduates to the ministry before they are permitted to recruit foreign workers. 'We are currently facing a situation where many industries are unwilling to hire graduates who have completed their training. They are reluctant to provide these students with the opportunity to gain practical experience because they prefer to take the easier route. 'Although the government has approved foreign workers for the plantation sector, I will not allow it unless industry players contribute to our local youth,' he said when met at the Dialog@MPIC session here today. Johari said the ministry will train about 250 TVET students annually in the plantation sector, and they will be placed in the industry based on the specific needs of the industry players. He said industry players must train these students until they become skilled and future specialists in the plantation sector. 'I want to commend Sime Darby and FGV for their dedicated initiatives to provide accommodation and decent salaries for young individuals who did not attend university. These youths can earn a salary of RM2,500 if they develop their skills and complete a TVET Level 3 qualification, and in another eight months, they could earn up to RM3,500. '...we must support these students in developing their careers. Otherwise, we're abandoning these youths, and that's not what we promised. Some industry players even refuse to hire them, and that's why I want to enforce this prerequisite. Currently, we depend on nearly 260,000 foreign workers to manage our plantations,' he said. Johari said the sector is vital as it represents the world's third-largest export industry, and within the national commodity sector, Malaysia exports approximately RM168 billion. He emphasised the need for industry players to take responsibility for mentoring and supporting these young talents.

Barnama
15 hours ago
- Business
- Barnama
Johari: Hire Local TVET Grads Or No Foreign Workers For Plantations
KUALA KANGSAR, June 22 (Bernama) -- The Plantation and Commodities Ministry (MPIC) has mandated that plantation industry players must first hire graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes before considering the employment of foreign workers. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said industry players must provide proof of their efforts to hire TVET graduates to the ministry before they are permitted to recruit foreign workers. "We are currently facing a situation where many industries are unwilling to hire graduates who have completed their training. They are reluctant to provide these students with the opportunity to gain practical experience because they prefer to take the easier route. "Although the government has approved foreign workers for the plantation sector, I will not allow it unless industry players contribute to our local youth," he said when met at the Dialog@MPIC session here today. Johari said the ministry will train about 250 TVET students annually in the plantation sector, and they will be placed in the industry based on the specific needs of the industry players. He said industry players must train these students until they become skilled and future specialists in the plantation sector. "I want to commend Sime Darby and FGV for their dedicated initiatives to provide accommodation and decent salaries for young individuals who did not attend university. These youths can earn a salary of RM2,500 if they develop their skills and complete a TVET Level 3 qualification, and in another eight months, they could earn up to RM3,500. "…we must support these students in developing their careers. Otherwise, we're abandoning these youths, and that's not what we promised. Some industry players even refuse to hire them, and that's why I want to enforce this prerequisite. Currently, we depend on nearly 260,000 foreign workers to manage our plantations," he said. Johari said the sector is vital as it represents the world's third-largest export industry, and within the national commodity sector, Malaysia exports approximately RM168 billion. He emphasised the need for industry players to take responsibility for mentoring and supporting these young talents.


GMA Network
28-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos visits PH's largest greenhouse facility
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday morning visited the country's largest greenhouse facility in San Rafael, Bulacan. He was accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) chairman Manuel Pangilinan, and others. The Metro Pacific Fresh Farms (MPFF) is a joint venture between Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV) — a subsidiary of the MPIC — and Israel-based LR Group, inaugurated its 3.5-hectare greenhouse facility in March. It is expected to produce up to 500 metric tons of fresh produce annually, including 60,000 heads of lettuce per month (144 MT per year). Developed with LR Group's state-of-the-art technology, the greenhouse also uses 90% less water and land while yielding five times more produce than traditional farms. 'MPFF's initiative addresses supply instability and high input costs, providing a reliable source of produce for businesses and consumers,' Malacañang said. 'The new brand 'More Veggies Please' aims to deliver fresh, nutritious vegetables initially in Metro Manila, with plans for nationwide expansion,' it added. The MPFF seeks to expand the greenhouse by the second half of 2026. —Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News