SD Guthrie Berhad uses machines to reduce foreign workers in Malaysia palm oil plantations

SD Guthrie Berhad reduced its need for general workers by 29% through the use of machinery in its Malaysian palm oil plantations.

Plantation and Commodities Minister Noraini Ahmad stated that the company achieved this without laying off staff by implementing Project Infinity since 2021. The project focuses on mechanization, automation, and digitalization to boost productivity and lower the company's reliance on foreign labor. The company now uses 444 machines for non-harvesting tasks such as fertilizing and weed control.

This shift helped SD Guthrie Berhad decrease its foreign worker count by 18% from 2019 to June 2026. Despite a 53% reduction in the total number of machines, the productivity of each machine rose by 51% and effective capacity increased 2.45 times. The ministry collaborated with various agencies and technical vocational training institutions to train 503 local youths as machine experts. These workers earn an average monthly salary of 3,500 RM.

The government plans to continue working with the industry to increase technology use and gradually reduce foreign worker dependency.