Why Malaysian professionals look to Singapore? Because they can earn double or more, says HR minister
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — Malaysian professionals could earn significantly higher working in neighbouring Singapore co...
Malaysian professionals are increasingly inclined to seek employment in Singapore, where their earnings can potentially be double or more than in Malaysia, according to the latest findings of a government study. Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R Ramanan revealed that median monthly wages for professionals in Malaysia hover around RM6,124 ($1,430), whereas a Singapore-based study conducted by government agency TalentCorp revealed that the majority of Malaysian professionals working in Singapore earn anywhere between SG$4,001 (RM12,773) and SG$7,000 (RM22,348) each month.
A 2024 study by TalentCorp titled "Push and Pull Factors Influencing Malaysians to Work in Singapore and Proposes Relevant Policy Recommendations" found that 94.5 percent of respondents cited higher salaries and better earning potential as the main catalyst for working in Singapore. This wage disparity is particularly stark in high-tech sectors, where skilled Malaysian professionals in Singapore can earn monthly salaries exceeding SG$10,000 (RM31,926), particularly in the information technology sector.
In response to this wage gap, the Raja Azlan Shah-led government has implemented a progressive wage policy model aimed at uplifting workers earning less than RM5,000 a month to prevent talent exodus and boost local compensation. Additionally, Malaysia is rolling out tax relief mechanisms under the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) that offers a flat 15 percent personal income tax rate for eligible knowledge workers employed by companies based in the zone.
This tax incentive is intended to entice Singapore-based firms to relocate operations across the border to Johor, allowing businesses to optimize operational costs while simultaneously offering higher salaries to local workers.
To further incentivize Malaysian talent to return home, Putrajaya is also utilizing TalentCorp's Returning Experts Programme, which also benefits from a flat 15 percent tax rate.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
