PETALING JAYA: The automotive sector, which has recorded a sales uptrend so far this year, needs to address the issue of manpower shortage to drive its recovery momentum beyond the sales tax exemption period ending June 30, 2022, and hence continue its contribution to the economy.

       But does the industry provide wages that are sufficiently attractive to woo local and foreign workers, especially as people are manoeuvring through the higher cost of living?

       The Proton Vendors Association has touted the intake of foreign workers as the solution to prevent the disruption to the national automotive manufacturing ecosystem, saying that if the ecosystem collapsed, it would lead to the loss of more than 500,000 jobs as well as wiping out up to 4.5% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

       Automotive analyst Shamsul Yunos urged the industry to review what it considers as fair wages as part of the solution for overcoming manpower shortage in the sector.

       “Increasing wages is highly important for the industry to attract the talent that is available in this country, and this requires companies to work on a business plan that adds more value to their products so that they can pay better wages,” he told Bernama.Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said automation has always been the buzzword when it comes to efficiencies and productivity.

       “So perhaps it is timely to look at the current setting, whether it is sustainable or not. Are there sufficient local engineers or technicians who can serve the industry? Is there a gap in our talent in terms of skill set? And what are the measures to reduce the gap?”