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Transcript/ScriptFOR USAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Malaysia Businesses Staffing Shortages (TV)
HEADLINE: Malaysian Businesses Struggle with Staffing Shortages
TEASER: Restaurants and retailers lose workers to digital gig jobs.
PUBLISHED AT: 03/18/2022
BYLINE: Dave Grunebaum
CONTRIBUTOR: Dave Grunebaum
DATELINE: Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
VIDEOGRAPHER: Dave Grunebaum
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: BR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X__ RADIO __
TRT: 2:23
VID APPROVED BY: MP
TYPE: TVPKG
Notes: Eds: There is a companion webscript and photos for a slideshow. ((Marcus Low -- last name is pronounced: ‘Lao’))
((INTRO))
[[Malaysian restaurants and other businesses are bouncing back after weathering the pandemic storm over the last two years. But as in other countries, these businesses are struggling to deal with significant staffing shortages. Dave Grunebaum has the story from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.]]
((Waiter))
“I would like to repeat your order today: three pieces of fried chicken.”
(NARRATOR)
At Table & Apron, business is up as regulars return for the restaurant’s fried chicken, sticky pork ribs as well as the spaghetti and clams.
((Marcus Low, Table & Apron Owner) pronounced: ‘Lao’))
“We have people knocking on doors or making reservations or saying I want to come and dine at your restaurant. So, we’re definitely seeing that come back.”
((NARRATOR))
This comes after the restaurant struggled for almost two years with revenue down about 70 percent after the start of the pandemic.
But now with more customers returning, owner Marcus Low can’t fully capitalize because he’s understaffed by 25 percent.
((Marcus Low, Table & Apron Owner) pronounced: ‘Lao’))
“So, we can’t accommodate a lot of guests simply because we’re short staffed. That means we have to change our operating times as well.”
((NARRATOR))
This staffing shortage is an issue at eateries and retail stores across Malaysia.
Some of these jobs were filled by foreign workers, but many returned home after the pandemic started.
Others were filled by local university students or graduates who were easy to replace if they left. But not anymore.
(Marcus Low, Table & Apron Owner) pronounced: ‘Lao’))
“A lot of them have gone on to doing gig economy jobs. Jobs where it grants them more flexibility, gives them the ability to control when they want to work. Working on weekends at restaurants doesn’t seem to be as attractive now.”
(Mikhaela Panachery, Gig Economy Worker)
“The young people have just more options these days. They don’t have to work in a physical store. They can just start working from home, working in an online business.”
(NARRATOR))
Mikhaela Panachery graduated from university last year and now works at home promoting products on social media.
For 25 hours of work per week, she earns about 350 U.S. dollars a month – similar to what she could earn working in a cafe.
(Mikhaela Panachery, Gig Economy Worker)
“It’s so great because if I want an off day, let's say on the same day, I can just take an off day. But if I was working in a cafe or retail store, I would have to put in maybe a week’s notice with my boss and I would also have to get someone else to cover my shift but because I’m doing a digital thing, I can just take an off day whenever I want.”
((NARRATOR))
Restaurant owner Low has raised wages and is trying to lure potential new hires by emphasizing a work environment with a lot of teamwork and social interaction. Nonetheless, he acknowledges this staffing shortage seems likely to persist.
Dave Grunebaum, for VOA News, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
NewsML Media TopicsEconomy, Business and Finance
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMarch 18, 2022 16:18 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
