Johor’s hotel industry grapples with staff shortages as workers seek better pay in Singapore.

Johor’s hotel industry faces a severe staff shortage as school-leavers increasingly leave local housekeeping roles for better-paying jobs in Singapore. With salaries across the causeway exceeding RM3,000 (SGD 899), compared to RM1,200–1,500 (SGD 359–449) in Johor, local employers are struggling to retain talent.

Johor’s proximity to Singapore has long influenced its economy, but the trend of school-leavers using local hotels as training grounds before migrating for higher salaries is exacerbating a staffing crisis in the state’s hospitality sector.

According to Ivan Teo, President of the Malaysian Association of Hotels’ Johor chapter, many young workers use Johor hotels as stepping stones to Singapore’s lucrative hospitality sector, where salaries for equivalent roles can exceed SGD 900 (USD 670).

Entry-level housekeeping positions in Johor pay RM1,200–1,500 (SGD 359–449), significantly lower than what Singapore offers. This disparity makes retaining skilled workers difficult, especially as local hotels provide on-the-job training that prepares employees for international roles.

With reduced housekeeping staff, Johor hotels struggle to meet industry standards, such as timely preparation of rooms for check-ins. Proposals to adjust check-in and check-out times face challenges due to staff shortages.

Read More: Johor Youth Seek Jobs in Singapore Amid Local Hotel Staffing Crisis

Teo advocates for allowing foreign workers in critical back-of-house roles, such as housekeeping and maintenance. This, he believes, could alleviate the growing workforce crisis in Johor’s hospitality industry.

Jimmy Leong, President of the Malaysian Tourist Guides Council, stresses the importance of revising pay scales and career growth opportunities. Without these changes, local workers will continue to seek higher-paying jobs in Singapore.

The staffing shortages may affect hotel service quality, potentially impacting the overall tourism experience. Conversely, Singaporean employers benefit from a steady flow of well-trained workers from Johor, maintaining service standards in the city-state’s own hospitality sector.

Johor’s hotel industry faces a staffing crisis as young workers leave for higher-paying jobs in Singapore. The significant wage disparity, coupled with operational challenges, has prompted calls for policy reform and better compensation to retain talent locally.

Sources: The Independent SG, NST (2024)