by David E.
KOTA KINABALU: Oct 2, 2026 – Three plantation industry associations have urged the Sabah government to reconsider the mandatory implementation of the Sistem Latihan Pekerja Asing (SLPA) through the e-Lestari platform, citing its RM300 per-worker fee and its link to the issuance and renewal of the Licence to Employ Non-Resident Workers.
MPOA Sabah Branch Chairman, Asrif bin Mahmud; EMPA Chairman, Datuk Syaheddrul R Joddari; MEOA President, Ahmad Zachary Anifah Aman
The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) Sabah Branch, East Malaysia Planters’ Association (EMPA) and Malaysian Estate Owners’ Association (MEOA) said in a joint statement that they recognise the importance of ensuring foreign workers understand employment requirements, occupational safety and health, their rights and responsibilities, and the local working environment.
However, they said plantation employers already invest significantly in worker induction, occupational safety and health, workplace procedures, employment compliance, responsible recruitment, grievance mechanisms and other worker-awareness programmes.
They questioned whether the additional measurable benefit to employers and workers justified another mandatory training requirement with a recurring RM300 cost for every affected foreign worker.
“The industry’s concern is not simply that RM300 per worker is high. The more fundamental concern is the creation of an additional mandatory compliance layer that carries a substantial recurring cost and is tied to an existing regulatory licensing process,” they said.
Under the official framework, completion of SLPA training is a prerequisite for the issuance or renewal of the Licence to Employ Non-Resident Workers. Based on clarification during industry engagement, subsequent training will contain updated content when the relevant licence is renewed.
The associations said they acknowledge the value of communicating genuinely new regulatory, safety or employment information to workers, but objected to making the RM300 per-worker payment part of each applicable licensing cycle.
They estimated that with 76,726 registered foreign workers in Sabah’s plantation sector, one full applicable cycle could represent an indicative direct cost of about RM23.02mil. An employer with 5,000 affected foreign workers would face a direct cost of RM1.5mil per cycle. The calculations were illustrative, they said.
The groups also raised concerns over potential overlap with existing employer training. They noted that the e-Lestari curriculum covers employment law, occupational safety and health, Sabah culture and customs, communication, discipline, additional skills, work ethics and social integration.
They called for a clear demonstration of the programme’s necessity, additionality and measurable outcomes beyond existing employer programmes.
The associations also sought greater transparency on the composition of the RM300 fee, saying a portion of programme funds is allocated towards local human capital development, including TVET, reskilling, upskilling, professional certification, industrial training, and digital and AI initiatives.
They supported efforts to develop Sabah’s local workforce but wanted clarity on how much of the payment relates directly to training received by foreign workers and how much supports broader programme objectives.
MPOA, EMPA and MEOA called for further engagement towards a more proportionate approach that recognises existing employer programmes, demonstrates measurable additional value and avoids unnecessary additional regulatory costs.
They stressed that the industry remains committed to worker protection, responsible employment practices, occupational safety and health, and compliance with Sabah’s labour requirements.
