Labour force participation of rural youth in plantation sector of Northern Peninsular Malaysia

Malaysian agricultural industry is labour-intensive, especially in oil palm plantations. It is reported in 2013 that 69% of the total number of plantation worker in oil palm plantation are foreign and 31% are local. This proportion indicates the lack of interest of the local people to work in the industry which resulted in vast employment of foreign worker. It is believed that the cost of foreign worker recruitment has increased due to rising social and security problems caused by the foreign workers which incurred a hidden cost to palm oil production. This paper aims to investigate the factors of local young labour shortage in oil palm plantation sector in Perak, Perlis, and Kedah. Malaysia can reduce its dependency on foreign worker by identifying the occupational interest of rural youth in oil palm plantation. A survey questionnaire is used to collect data using random and purposive sampling method. A total number of 332 respondents from rural young labours staying in FELDA and FELCRA areas were analysed using Probit model. Results show the factors contributing to the probability to participate in oil palm plantation are age, wage, wage squared, gender, level of education, and mother’s occupation. Attraction factors that can possibly increase local youth participation in plantation sector includes improvement of working environment, job status, facility and benefit in plantation field

Food labels' impact assessment on consumer purchasing behavior in Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to validate the impact of food labels among Malaysian consumers using an extended theory of planned behavior model (TPB). In doing so, the study assessed the direct and indirect effect of food labeling on consumer intention to purchase or otherwise the food products of interest. A stratified random sampling technique was adopted in selecting 2,014 consumers in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The results of structural equation modeling supported the adequacy of the proposed model. This study contributes to and extends the understanding of food labeling and purchasing behavior, identifying the rationales for purchasing of food products with labels that contains information such as halal logo, ingredients, and nutritive value

Factors Influencing Consumer Purchasing Intention based on Food Labels

This is a paper that highlighted on factors that influence the intention of consumers to buy food product based on food labels. Food label consist of any written, printed or graphic information that represent on the package of the product or is exhibited near the food for the purpose of promoting the sale or disposal. There are many factors contributing to the use of food labels on purchasing decision. Hence, the paper discusses on the factors influencing consumer purchasing intention based on food labels

Study on the customer perception of the tropical fruit vinegar in Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur

This research will be focus on the differences of perception of customers in Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur toward tropical fruits vinegar. Tropical fruit vinegar was used in this research with Rambutan and Dokong vinegar as the choice. Dokong and Rambutan are tropical seasonal fruits. The production quantity is getting higher these few years, and it results that farmers have to face all negative impact. Next, this study also reduces the import of vinegar product. Furthermore, this study also helps in fulfilling the national agenda in National Agro Food Policies 2011–2020. The amount of respondents are 108 in Kelantan and 69 in Kuala Lumpur. The major finding is Customers in Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan both accepts Natural Fruits Vinegar products. The result also shows that consumers are concern about the quality, safety, and nutritional content of products and prefer glass material for packaging than plastic material

Push and pull factors of suburban local youth towards career in oil palm plantation

The rapid expansion of oil palm plantation in Malaysia in 1990, 2.03 million hectares to 5.39 million hectares in 2014 (Malaysia Palm Oil Board 2015) caused required high labour intensive in this sector. More than 78% of labor (Azman 2014) in this sectors mainly came from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Philippines. Malaysia has become the main attention for the foreign labours to work in this country due to the wages more competitive and generative working condition especially the plantation sector provide the conducive accommodation compared to their origin country. The pressing issue now is the rising social issues of the illegal foreign workers and influx of the foreign workers without work permit. One of the best solutions is hire the local youth to works in oil palm plantation. The main problem is compounded by the fact that it is difficult to hire the local youth workers due to the migration of local youth from government settlers scheme oil palm plantation located in the sub urban area. As a result this scheme area dominated with foreign labour. This study which was conducted in the State of Johore wants to find the push and pull factors\towards the career in oil palm plantation which involved the repulsion, inclination and attraction based on their perceptions .A survey method through questionnaire was used to collect data from 278 of local youth between 16 years to 40 years old as focused respondents which were selected using random sampling method. Descriptive analysis was applied based on their demographic factors and the involvement of the local youth in oil palm plantation