Wanita MCA urges the government to seriously tackle the issue of brain drain and related dilemmas via expanding employment opportunities, elevating wage levels, safeguarding workers’ welfare, thereby enhancing purchasing power and work-life balance. These measures will contribute towards propelling economic progress and achieve transformation of all industries nationwide.

According to a report by the World Bank, low wages among Malaysians have led to brain drain. Although the number of unemployed persons dropped to 580,700 (3.4%) in 2023, according to the Fourth Quarter 2023 Labour Market Review released by the Statistics Department, skill-related underemployment – or people with tertiary education in semi-skilled and low-skilled occupations – increased by 2.4% year-on-year to 1.94 million or 37.4% (Free Malaysia Today, 23 Feb 2024). Wanita MCA therefore, stands on the same page with the recommendation by the World Bank that increasing labour productivity is a key strategy to reduce brain drain and low wages.

In recent years, our country is plagued with the major issue of brain drain. This not only impacts against attracting high-end foreign investment but also holds adverse effects on our country's economic transformation - in particular, the shortage of technical workers in high-end industries such as artificial intelligence and microchip production.

To address the issues of Malaysia losing out due to human capital outflow and low salaries, the government needs to enhance labour productivity. Adopting corresponding policies and measures, including creating a conducive environment for entrepreneurship and innovation will empower local talents to unleash their potential to drive financial prowess. In addition, Malaysian companies could enhance skills training and create wider and better job opportunities to alleviate the increasingly severe problem of underemployment.

By formulating competitive tax and welfare policies, including tax reductions and incentives, improving social welfare benefits, and providing subsidies and support to businesses, the government would be able to entice human talents to continue residing in the country.

Through these measures, Malaysia can establish a favorable employment climate, enabling talent to opt to stay and develop their careers domestically. In addition to addressing the issue of low purchasing power, Malaysians also hope for better career prospects, expanding overseas perspectives, and enhancing competitiveness. The government and local enterprises should provide more training and development opportunities, allowing talents to realize their dreams within our tanahair.

By promoting collaboration with other countries, the government would be providing Malaysian talents with broader possibilities for advancement.

Through international exchanges and cooperation, our local talents can gain more openings and platforms, achieving a win-win situation for both personal development and national economic transformation.

Wong You Fong
Wanita MCA National Chairperson

24 April 2024

-MCA Comm-