RESTAURANTS in Johor have lost 20% of their workforce to Singapore as Malaysians are lured to the republic by higher wages, industry experts said.

The Singapore dollar, which is trading at RM3.15, is attractive to many Johor folk who want to make a better living.

Johor Kitchen Association president Ang See Kiong told The Malaysian Insight that once land travel between Singapore and Malaysia reopened on April 1 after a two-year closure, Malaysians immediately gravitated to jobs in Singapore.

Restaurants, in particular, are suffering from a 20% loss of labour due to the departure of chefs.

“To retain employees, we will have to adjust the salaries of the local chefs and give them a promotion as the current salary is not enough for them to live on,” Ang said.

While there are many who are seeking out jobs in Singapore, Malaysians who have been stuck on the city-state for two years are returning home to work in Johor as well.

“Some chefs have decided to stay put after returning. While the salary in Singapore is a lot higher, here they don’t have to work constantly and they can spend time with their families.”

Johor Baru Coffee, Restaurant and Bar Operators Association chairman Tiong Kiu Wong said coffee shops are losing their dishwashers and waiters, as many have opted to look for jobs in Singapore.

However, the loss of these employees is not too severe, he said.

“Since we are slowly recovering, losing these employees is a bit of a headache because some of us are now left with manpower shortage, but we can still deal with it.”

Tiong said it was normal for the exodus to take place as everyone is in search of better-paying jobs.

“Local businesses that are doing well have adjusted their salaries in hopes of retaining their staff.”

Johor Baru Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Low Kueck Shin said while there are Malaysians leaving for Singapore, but the situation is not dire.

“Young people especially will look for better-paying jobs in Singapore, but the situation in Johor is not bad.

“Everyone has different ideas; some think it’s better to stay in Malaysia and run a small business with an income of RM5,000. It may be better to stay in Johor because then you don’t have to pay for various living expenses in Singapore,” he said.

However, employer are still worried that they will lose their workers.

“The borders just opened, people are still waiting to see if there are any changes.”

Last week, the Singapore dollar hit an all-time high of 3.1688 against the ringgit.

According to data from Bloomberg, the previous high was on March 31, 2017, when the dollar fetched RM3.1650. – May 4, 2022.