{
  "id": 12379110,
  "title": "Johor wants jobs that make workers think twice about Singapore: Exco",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/johor-wants-jobs-that-make-workers-think-twice-about-singapore-exco",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-06T12:45:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2026/10/1549220/johor-wants-jobs-make-workers-think-twice-about-singapore-exco"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Johor-Baru Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is aiming to create higher-value jobs and better prospects for residents compared to Singapore, according to Lee Ting Han, chairman of the State Investment, Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee. The JS-SEZ is not focused on matching Singapore's salaries, as the exchange rate makes this unrealistic. Instead, it aims to improve overall economics through better pay, career progression, and quality of life, without requiring Johoreans to spend long hours commuting across the Causeway.\n\nThe JS-SEZ's initial goal is to establish 20,000 skilled jobs by 2034, but this should serve as a starting point, not an end goal. The real transformation comes when major investments create an entire ecosystem of higher-value jobs, ranging from engineers and technicians to digital, financial, and professional services. This transformation also seeks to lift local SMEs into global supply chains.\n\nKey performance indicators should focus on the number of Johoreans moving from lower-paying jobs (RM3,000) to higher-paying ones (RM5,000, RM8,000, and eventually RM10,000-plus). The ultimate objective is for a young Johorean to receive two job offers - one in Singapore and one in Johor - and decide that the Johor offer is good enough to consider carefully.\n\nThe JS-SEZ is already making progress. EcoCeres in Tanjung Langsat has created over 300 jobs, including 185 held by Johoreans, with salaries ranging from RM3,000 to RM15,000 depending on skills and technical expertise. Other companies, such as Wiwynn in AI-server and computing hardware, and Brooks Automation, which is building advanced semiconductor automation capabilities, are also investing in Johor, creating positions ranging from engineering specialists to senior manufacturing engineers and manufacturing management. The data-center ecosystem in Johor now offers data-center engineering roles with salaries ranging from RM5,000 to RM7,000 per month, with specialized technical positions reaching higher levels.\n\nLee's strategy aims to build an industrial and services ecosystem capable of raising household incomes and retaining skilled workers in Johor. The focus is on creating better jobs with stronger career pathways for Johoreans. This strategy comes at a time when the wage arbitrage debate - Johoreans earning Singapore dollars while living in Johor - is highlighting the gap between the two labor markets and the challenge of creating attractive careers on this side of the Causeway.",
  "summary": "JOHOR BARU: The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is targeting higher-value careers that can persuade Johoreans to work locally instead of crossing the Causeway for better pay, said Lee Ting Han.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}