Latest news with #045
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Tylon Smith seals life-changing move to QPR
Leicester City topped the list in the 2023/24 season, with an average weekly wage of £44,000 (R1,045,759.44). Fletcher Hani Lowe of South Africa, Tylon Smith of South Africa and Mouad Dahak of Morocco after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations U20 Final match between South Africa and Morocco on the 18 May 2025 at 30 June Stadium in Cairo © Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Rising South African star Tylon Smith has completed a lucrative transfer from Stellenbosch FC to English Championship side Queens Park Rangers, in what could be described as a life-changing move for the young defender. ALSO READ: Rashford closing in on Barcelona move: reports Although QPR have yet to formally announce his signing, Smith has already been in England for the past two weeks and settling into his new environment as he prepares for the upcoming season. According to a leading betting site William Hill, the average Championship salary continues to rise, with some clubs paying their players over £30,000 (R713,017.80) per week on average. Leicester City topped the list in the 2023/24 season, with an average weekly wage of £44,000 (R1,045,759.44). At the other end of the scale, lower-budget teams in the league are paying less than £5,000 (R118,836.30) per week in wages. Smith caught international attention after being named Player of the Tournament at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt earlier this year. He played a crucial role in Amajita's historic maiden continental triumph, including a standout performance in the 1–0 victory over Morocco in the final at Cairo International Stadium. He also netted the decisive goal in the semi-final against Nigeria, further underlining his potential and attracting interest from clubs across Europe. ALSO READ: Sundowns' Ribeiro wins Club World Cup goal of the tournament On the domestic front, Smith has been nominated for the DStv Diski Challenge Player of the Season award, capping off a stellar year for one of South Africa's brightest young talents.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Unemployment to remain low, challenges expected
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's unemployment rate is expected to average at below 3% this year, underpinned by increased employment and sustained job opportunities, particularly in the services sector. However, economists are cautioning that factors such as geopolitical uncertainties could certainly pose risks. Malaysia's unemployment rate dropped from 3.1% in March to 3% in April and May, the lowest in 10 years, according to the Statistics Department. Going forward, Williams Business Consultancy Sdn Bhd founder and economist Geoffrey Williams expects the country's unemployment rate to remain low. 'In the second half of this year, unemployment will be low as usual, underemployment will be high as usual and wages will barely cover rising prices for most people,' he quipped. 'In one sense, the labour market is correcting itself because people are moving more into the gig-economy, micro-enterprises, freelancing and side hustles. 'This is because formal employment is a very bad deal with low wages, bad terms and conditions and not enough flexibility,' Williams told StarBiz. Centre for Market Education chief executive officer Carmelo Ferlito meanwhile said he 'does not foresee any short-term radical change' to the country's unemployment rate. 'I think Malaysia's unemployment remains within what can be called structural unemployment and at a very low rate. 'However, we need to watch the medium-run, to see the effects of the trade war (if it will indeed happen or if it will remain on paper) and the recent decisions from Bank Negara, which may have an alternance of good and bad effects in the medium and long run.' Bank Negara cut the overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 2.75% at its July Monetary Policy Committee meeting. Commenting on Malaysia's job market performance so far this year, Williams noted that everything does look good. At least on paper. 'More people are joining the labour force, but this is not a good signal because they are young individuals who are dropping college to get an income for their families or taking part-time jobs to boost the household income. 'Moreover, unemployment is remaining low but underemployment has become a structural problem. People take jobs below their qualifications because they have no choice and need to support themselves and their families.' Williams also noted that wages are still low and stagnant. 'Median wages only rose by 3.4% last year to around RM3,045. This means half of the people on formal private sector contracts are essentially 'working poor'. They have a job but are still struggling to make ends meet. 'As the cost of living rises, the amount you can buy with your wage, the so-called median 'real wage', has fallen by almost 9%.' Williams said the downward pressure on wages is due to higher labour force participation by younger people and the cost of living. 'Wages are forced down and prices are rising. Also, in manufacturing, persistently low productivity means manufacturing wages have been falling in real terms since the Covid-19 pandemic.' Meanwhile, BIMB Research said the country's job market performance thus far points to rising confidence among job seekers and stronger workforce participation, supported by continued economic expansion. 'The combination of steady job creation and low unemployment suggests improved job matching, with more individuals able to find suitable employment. 'Labour-force growth persisted, bolstered by sustained demand for electrical and electronics exports and broader economic resilience.' However, the research house noted that youth unemployment remained elevated at 10.2%, despite a slight 0.1 percentage point improvement, highlighting persistent structural barriers to youth employment and labour market entry. 'Looking ahead, Malaysia's labour market is expected to maintain a steady trajectory through 2025, supported by resilient domestic demand and ongoing expansion in the services and technology sectors. 'These favourable labour market conditions are likely to bolster consumer spending and help sustain economic momentum, even as global trade headwinds persist.' However, BIMB Research said export-oriented industries may come under pressure from elevated global tariffs, which could dampen hiring activity and wage growth in the external sector. 'In this context, the recent cut in the OPR to 2.75% is expected to provide a timely boost by lowering borrowing costs, stimulating domestic demand, and encouraging private sector hiring, particularly in interest-sensitive sectors such as construction, services, and manufacturing. 'Overall, employment growth is projected to remain firm, with the unemployment rate expected to average around 3.2% for the year, reflecting a broadly stable and resilient labour market despite external uncertainties.' Elsewhere, MIDF Research also remains positive on the outlook for Malaysia's job market. 'We expect Malaysia's unemployment rate to average lower around 3% in 2025 (previous forecast: 3.1%; 2024: 3.3%), underpinned by increased employment and sustained job opportunities particularly in the services sector. 'Job creation and strong labour demand are expected to be driven by resilient domestic consumption and sustained investment activity.' However, the research house said it remains cautious that tariff-related disruptions could dampen global demand and weigh on hiring in export- and commodity-linked sectors. 'On the other hand, rising employment and steady wage growth are likely to be concentrated in domestic-oriented sectors that are relatively insulated from the impact of higher US tariffs.'
Borneo Post
21-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
M'sian manufacturing body urges govt support for automation, job redesign to tackle labour shortage
Soh says while manufacturers are investing heavily in automation and digitalisation, these transitions require capital, time and skilled talents, which remain in short supply. KUCHING (June 21): The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) has suggested the government introduce targeted incentives for automation and support for job redesign to maintain manufacturing as a competitive and inclusive sector. According to FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai, while manufacturers are investing heavily in automation and digitalisation, these transitions require capital, time and skilled talents, which remain in short supply. He said the latest Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) data had confirmed that manufacturing wages in Malaysia were rising steadily and surpassing national averages. 'Employers in the sector remain committed to offering fair and competitive compensation, but urgent support is needed to address persistent labour shortage. 'The reliance on foreign workers stems from a shortage of willing and skilled local workers, not from any strategy to suppress wages. 'A balanced, data-driven and skills-based human capital strategy is crucial for us to remain competitive and inclusive,' he said in a statement, issued in response to DoSM's Monthly Manufacturing Statistics, which indicated that the average salary in the manufacturing sector rose to RM3,460 per month in April this year, reflecting a 1.2 per cent year-on-year increase. In comparison, the average monthly salary across all formal sectors stood at RM3,441 in the fourth quarter of last year, highlighting that manufacturing wages continued to outperform the national average, Soh pointed out. Additionally, he said total wages paid in the manufacturing sector climbed to RM8.31 billion in April 2025, marking a 2.4 per cent year-on-year increase. He added that the median wage across all formal sectors was recorded at RM3,045, while manufacturing median wages ranged between RM2,764 and RM3,052, well above the national minimum wage of RM1,700. 'FMM acknowledges that the data clearly demonstrates manufacturing wages in Malaysia are not only competitive, but are continuing to rise steadily. This affirms that employers in the sector are offering fair compensation, and it also counters the claim of the workers being underpaid. 'Despite competitive wage levels, the manufacturing sector continues to grapple with acute labour shortages, especially in 3D (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) job categories.' He emphasised again that the local workers were not being displaced by cheaper foreign labour, adding that hiring foreign workers involved considerable costs and regulatory compliance. 'Furthermore, even when wages offered exceed the national minimum wage, many of these roles remain unattractive to the local job-seekers.' As such, he recommended the government to expand technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes and industry-led training initiatives to the manufacturing sector and strengthen them, as well as to formalise informal workers and improve the enforcement of wage-related regulations. 'The government should also establish tripartite labour planning councils for collaborative workforce strategies. 'We reiterate our support for a voluntary, productivity-linked Progressive Wage Policy (PWP) that encourages wage growth aligned with skills enhancement and measurable performance, rather than arbitrary increases. 'A business-friendly and voluntary PWP, grounded in clear performance metrics, would gain manufacturers' support and ensure that wage increases are sustainable and linked to worker capability,' added Soh.
What's On
13-06-2025
- Business
- What's On
Etihad launches four daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Karachi
Etihad Airways, the UAE's national carrier, has announced it is increasing its flight frequencies to Karachi, Pakistan. The expansion is part of the airline's commitment to provide UAE residents and tourists with more travel options and enhanced connectivity. The flights will be launched on October 1, 2025 and tickets can already be purchased. Flights from Abu Dhabi to Karachi will depart at 2.25am, 7.50am, 2.40pm and 11.40pm. From Karachi to Abu Dhabi, the flights will depart at 5.15am, 6.35am, 12pm and 9.35pm. Direct flights between the two cities usually take around two hours and 15 minutes. Photo credit: Getty Images The new addition will bring the number of non-stop flights to Karachi up to 28 flights every week. In total, the expansion will bring the number of flights to Pakistan to 60, showcasing Etihad 's commitment to the region. The enhanced flight frequencies are planned in such a way as to allow for maximum convenience and seamless connectivity across the carrier's expanding global network. Why the increase in flights to Karachi? Expatriates make up a significant majority of the UAE's population, totaling approximately 10.04 million people. According to the demographics, Indians form the largest group, with 4.36 million residents, followed by Pakistanis, who make up 1.9 million of the population. The numbers are evident as the flights from the UAE to these two destinations are on the rise. The UAE's geographical positioning makes the country every traveller's dream, whether it's for those that are looking to explore the world or simply travel back home to loved ones. Other new flight announcements Photo credit: Getty Images In February, Etihad Airways announced it will be launching flights to the stunning Russian city of Sochi over the summer. Etihad will fly three times a week between Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Sochi International Airport (AER) – on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday. Return flights can already be booked for a starting price of Dhs2,045. You can read more here. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Malaysian Reserve
30-04-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Median wages in formal sector rose 5% from Dec 2023 to Dec 2024
by NURUL NAJMIN ABU BAKAR MEDIAN monthly wages in Malaysia's formal sector rose to RM3,045 in December 2024, up 5% from the same month last year. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the median wage increased from RM2,764 recorded in both October and November 2024, showing continued improvement in the labour market during the final quarter of the year. Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the whole of 2024, the annual median wage grew by 6% compared to 2023, based on data from the Employee Wages Statistics (Formal Sector) Report, Fourth Quarter 2024. 'This increase in median wages shows the labour market is improving along with economic growth,' he said in a statement. The number of citizens working in the formal sector rose 2.3% year-on-year to 6.83 million people in December 2024, with an increase of 156,600 workers. Male employees made up 55.2% of the total or 3.77 million people, with a median wage of RM3,045, while females made up 44.8% or 3.06 million people, earning a median of RM3,000. Compared to December 2023, median wages for male employees grew by 3.4%, while female wages increased by 5.4%. All age groups recorded wage growth, with the highest increase of 8.3% seen in employees aged 65 and above, whose median wage rose to RM2,982. Employees under 20 years old saw their median wage increase for the first time since June 2022, rising by 1.8% to RM1,527, while those aged 45 to 49 earned the highest wage at RM4,082. All sectors saw wage growth in the fourth quarter, with the mining and quarrying sector recording the highest increase of 9.6% to RM7,500, though it made up only 0.6% of workers. The agriculture sector had the lowest median wage at RM2,382 but still posted a 3.6% year-on-year increase. Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest median wage by state at RM4,200, followed by Penang (RM3,382) and Selangor (RM3,300), while Sabah (RM2,000), Perlis (RM1,764) and Kelantan (RM1,664) were the lowest. In December 2024, 29.2% of formal employees earned below RM2,000 a month,a drop of two percentage points from the year before. 'The bottom 10% earned RM1,500 or less, while the top 10% earned at least RM10,800 which showed a gap of more than seven times,' he explained. Mohd Uzir added that DOSM will continue improving wage data by using more administrative sources to give a clearer view of the labour market.
