Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (CU)_ Several economic sectors of the country have improved after the Covid-19 pandemic, but the labor crisis in Malaysia remains unaddressed since so many Malaysians have traveled overseas for employment. The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) reported that around 900,000 Malaysians have relocated to Singapore for employment due to the favorable exchange rate and higher salaries.
According to its president, Datuk Dr. Syed Hussain Syed Husman, nearly 300,000 individuals travel every day to Singapore to make a living. However, he stated that money was not the sole reason they chose Singapore. The other factors like career advancement and a desirable lifestyle also pushed them to leave the nation.
Syed Hussain said, “The opportunity to work in advanced industries in Singapore is really good for Malaysians as they get regional and international postings too”. He added, “They earn better incomes in Singapore, which ensure they have enough savings when they retire. The higher cost of products and services, especially in Johor Baru, made them decide to work in Singapore to increase their income”.
Syed Hussain noted that leaving the nation may fulfill some of their financial requirements, but that life is not just about material possessions. He stated that MEF has been urging the government to leverage modern technologies via the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in order to attract more Malaysians to serve the nation.
Syed Hussain said, “The government also needs to assist employers to introduce new technology for IR4.0 (Fourth Industrial Revolution). But they are expensive, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises, which constitute more than 98% of all registered companies. There is also a need to link wages of employees to their qualifications to ensure that their skills certification is properly recognised”.
According to Nicholas Chong Biing Shi, director of Agensi Pekerjaan Asia Recruit Sdn Bhd, several people are leaving Malaysia in order to escape from the middle-income trap caused by growing prices and a depreciating ringgit. According to him, many chose to leave Malaysia because the salaries provided to them did not reflect their credentials and expertise.
Nicholas said, “The salary for fresh graduates is already around S$2,600 to S$3,000, and it is expected to increase soon to S$3,100 on the higher end. For them, it is quite easy to survive and save money”. He added, “But in Malaysia 20 years ago, the salary for a fresh engineering graduate was RM2,000. Now, it is RM2,800 only. So it’s evident that there is career development in Singapore but not in Malaysia”.
Nicholas stated that compared to Malaysia, employees are able to afford their costs and even save money in Singapore. He said, “Actually, only the living costs in Singapore are expensive, but they can cover this since their salaries are high. Even when they rent a room, it only costs them between S$500 and S$600”. He added, “But I think the disadvantage is that people don’t want to return to Malaysia as they feel comfortable in Singapore. Further, most countries, especially Singapore, will try to get them to become permanent residents”.
According to MEF reports, over 300,000 Malaysians travel every day to Singapore for work. 29-year-old Ava Rozario, working in the field of wildlife, wishes to work in Singapore rather than Malaysia due to the limited employment options in the sector in Malaysia. She said, “I love to work in Singapore because the country offers me the option to master what I’m interested in. But I still have hopes of working with wildlife in Malaysia”. Yuni Lim, a 24-year-old customer service representative, adores Singapore because of its excellent transportation system. She said, “In Singapore, you can rely on public transport. You can go to your destination by train or bus. But in Malaysia, you won’t be able to know when the bus or train would arrive, even though there is a schedule”.
