Coronavirus: Malaysian workers in Singapore in a quandary after being told to go on unpaid leave

Many Malaysians have been asked to take unpaid leave during Singapore’s partial lockdown and are unable to apply for part-time jobs by law

They are hesitant to return to Malaysia for fear that they will be unable to go back to Singapore and are waiting for the circuit breaker to end

Reading Time:4 minutes

Commuters leave the Woodlands Causeway across to Singapore from Johor hours before Malaysia imposed a lockdown in March. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:09am, 20 Apr 2020Updated: 11:09am, 20 Apr 2020

When the Malaysian Movement Control Order (MCO) took effect on March 18, Cannie Leo scrambled to secure a S$800 (US$561) room in Woodlands with a friend, so that she could continue working for a construction firm in Singapore.

Weeks later, Singapore announced that it was implementing its circuit breaker on April 7, which required all “non-essential” businesses to cease operations for a month.

Leo’s employers asked her to take a month of unpaid leave, and the 27-year-old administrative assistant found herself in a fix.

“I have less than S$200 (US$140) in savings to live in Singapore for the rest of the month. The money I saved in my Malaysian bank account is not even enough to cover my bills for next month, which is more than RM3,000 (US$683),” she said.

Up until the MCO took effect, the Johor resident used to shuttle across the Causeway daily.

Leo earns about S$1,400 (US$983) a month from her current job.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x