Malaysia's economic growth and expansion are highly depended on the manufacturing and operational industry. To support the manufacturing industry, for instance, a factory needs a team of manpower. Workers are often assigned to handle the machines and inspect the manufactured product for quality. We knew that there is a trend in the decreasing number of workers due to several reasons. This is the precise situation where a Malaysia manpower agency plays a crucial part in delivering or offering the needed workforce for businesses to continue with a smoothly manufacturing process.
However, certain aspects that a manufacturer is unaware of are the daily problems that a manufacturer or Malaysian manpower supply agency may faces. These organization provide a set of expectations, but most of the time they are not an accurate indicator of the situation. Here are some expectations and realities:
1. Hiring Local Employees
Expectations
In most cases, local workers are the best option for companies to hire. This is because they have an understanding of the culture and can be employed quickly. They also have a better understanding of their work environment and will not need to be trained as much as foreign workers would. Local workers are employed quickly just because they are already present in the country, requiring only scouting & hiring.
Reality
Local employees are not likely to accept to work in a manufacturing environment. It is more difficult and physically demanding. This is because manufacturing environment is not the most desirable job prospects for locals. There are many other jobs that they can find and enjoy doing, without having to go through the physical and mental strain of working in a factory, local employees are more likely choose to work as food delivery workers.
2. More affordable rates for hiring local workers
Expectation
From a perspective of employers, it is not always profitable to hire foreign workers. They have to pay substantial taxes and levy on them. This is where hiring local workers can be appealing for many employers. They provide a more affordable rate, and sometimes even better qualities.
Reality
Local workers have a higher expectation for allowances and bonuses. They may not be interested in taking on difficult or dangerous jobs because they feel they deserve better. Companies will have to provide more benefits to their employees if they are to keep their workforce happy. This could ultimately lead to an increase in costs for businesses. especially considering the current employment market's difficulty in hiring foreign workers.
3. The Work Period and Longevity of Local Workers
Expectations
Local workers prefer to stay close to their family while foreign workers might want or need to move closer to their home country because of visa restrictions. For foreign workers, the willingness to stay in a country longer may stem from the fact that they are living in an unfamiliar environment.
Reality
A recent survey found that more and more local workers tend to be unhappy with their current jobs. Around 60% of respondents said they would change jobs for a better offer. And the maximum time that they could stay in one company is just 6 months, much shorter than the 2-year average. They are eager to find a better offer for themselves. This is because they're probably looking for a place that's closer to home and provides better benefits such as healthcare and company-sponsored funds and benefits. Foreign employees, on the other hand, tend to stay on the job for more than a year or longer. This indicates that foreign workers assist to a reduce turnover rate and a constant quantity of output.
Sometime the reality of your job market may clash with what you expected and that’s why the expectations and realities of recruiting local industrial manpower are discussed above. With the given facts and realities above, the companies may analyse these aspects further to comprehend this in-depth, which may aid in improving their employee’s retention rate. At the end of the day, companies and recruitment departments know what to expect from a specific group of employees and can plan accordingly.