Background: Malaysia’s oil palm industry, as one of the world’s largest palm oil producers, faces increasing pressure to maintain productivity while ensuring worker welfare. The sector’s heavy reliance on manual labor necessitates comprehensive understanding of factors influencing worker performance. Objective: This study investigates the relationship between labour welfare, safety conditions, and health management on worker performance in Malaysian oil palm estates. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 103 estate workers at Kuala Muda Estate, Kedah, using structured questionnaires. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS to examine relationships between independent variables (welfare, safety, health conditions) and dependent variable (labour performance). Results: Health conditions demonstrated the strongest significant influence on labour performance (β = 0.542, p < 0.001), followed by safety conditions showing moderate effect (β = 0.328, p < 0.05). Labour welfare exhibited the weakest but still positive correlation with performance (β = 0.186, p < 0.05). Musculoskeletal disorders were prevalent, with 95.1% of workers reporting neck pain. Workplace injuries were common, with 84.5% experiencing sprains during tool handling and 76.7% reporting skin abrasions. Conclusion: Health conditions emerge as the primary determinant of labour performance in oil palm estates, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive occupational health programs. Strategic interventions focusing on ergonomic improvements, injury prevention, and health monitoring systems are essential for sustainable productivity enhancement.
Farahida et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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