Johor faces manpower shortage as ringgit fall draws workers to Singapore
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The weakening ringgit against the Singapore dollar has drawn many skilled Johoreans to seek higher paying jobs in Singapore, leaving manpower shortages in Johor's healthcare and F&B sectors.
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Some Johoreans working in Singapore can earn up to 3 times more than they would in Malaysia due to currency conversion rates.
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The Johor state government has acknowledged the lack of local workers and "brain drain" phenomenon. It is working to increase training and wages locally.
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Economists suggest implementing wage schemes to incentivize skills upgrading and raise incomes for low-wage workers in Johor.
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Employers may need to close the salary gap with Singapore to at least two-thirds in order to retain talent and manpower. But operational costs may make this challenging.