JOHOR BARU: Career growth and better salaries are enticing Malaysians to seek employment in Singapore.
Amrish Adrin Johan, 35, said he has been working at a fitness centre in Jurong, Singapore, for about a year. He used to be an insurance agent in Malaysia.
Besides job stability, Amrish said there had been career development for him as well.
“Previously, I was a fitness trainer. Now I am part of the operation and customer service staff at the same place,” he said.
Amrish is happy with the working hours, too, saying that he did not have to rush across the Second Link daily to be at his workplace early.
He said the salary was also good as it allowed him to settle his financial commitments and monthly grocery bills.
“I am earning about S$2,100 (RM7,400) per month including overtime. After paying the bills and rent, I am able to save about S$500 (RM1,777),” he added.
The general manager of a construction company in Singapore, James Chow, 47, said he has been working in the island republic for the past 14 years.
The father of two, who earns less than S$10,000 (RM35,500), said it was the financial advantage in Singapore that drove him to work there.
“Besides the better salary, the working environment is different. Everything is done at a fast pace and is systematic. Jobs can be completed on time,” he said.
Asked if he would work in Malaysia in the near future, he said it was difficult for him to find a new job at his age.
Furthermore, he said his financial commitments were a factor why he continued working in Singapore.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Faculty of Management’s Assoc Prof Dr L. Nanthakumar said that Malaysians looking for employment abroad, especially in Singapore, were not only motivated by money but also career growth.
These two reasons led to many Malaysians getting jobs across the Straits of Johor as it could provide them with a good future not only for themselves but their families as well.
“Don’t get them wrong. These Malaysians love our country,” he said, adding, however, that the ringgit slide was among the factors contributing to a continuous brain drain.
“Many of our fellow Malaysians are working at global companies based in Singapore. They are earning good salaries in the Singapore dollar as the exchange rate favours them.
“We have to look at the positive side. These Malaysians are spending their salaries in Johor, which is good for the local economy.”
Nanthakumar said one of the ways for Malaysia to stop the brain drain was through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The SEZ, he said, could help attract international companies to set up their bases in Johor, which could be attractive to Malaysians working in Singapore.
“If the SEZ is able to lure global companies to invest in Johor, then Malaysians in Singapore will want to work here instead as they already have the experience working in an international environment.
“But the government must make sure that the salaries offered to them are not that far from their Singapore salaries, while making it compulsory for these companies to offer jobs to locals instead of foreigners.”
