MALAYSIA is taking the hunt for palm oil workers online as the world’s second-biggest producer struggles to ease an acute labour shortage that’s costing farmers billions of dollars in unharvested fruit.

The two-day virtual career carnival, organised by the plantations and human resources ministries together with the country’s social security organisation, seeks to fill over 8,600 jobs offered by 26 employers in the farm sector. About 3,000 locals, including graduates and indigenous communities, are expected to participate.