KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) is working closely with the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah), through the task force's Technical Working Group on Human Capital (TWGHC), to push for innovation as the way forward for the plantation industry.

Its director-general Datuk Abdul Latif Abu Seman said MPC has identified technology adoption and skilled talent as the main multipliers for productivity, which are the drivers to enable an efficient and effective production process and increase the ease of doing business.

"Automation and mechanisation are the way forward for the plantation industry to reduce its dependency on low-skilled foreign workers. MPC is facilitating this effort by developing a strategic roadmap for reference," he said in a statement today.

At the micro level, Abdul Latif said technological advancement boosts productivity and efficiency.

"It reduces the cost of doing business through process improvement; hence companies can maximise sales and profits.

"MPC believes that this will also impact wages as employees' salaries can be increased alongside productivity improvement.