Entering the workforce as a fresh graduate can already be tough, but one Malaysian was left stunned after receiving a job opportunity that came with a RM1,700 basic salary and very long working hours.
Taking to Threads, the degree holder shared a screenshot of an invitation he received through the job portal for a Sales Advisor Consultant position in Ipoh, Perak.
“Welcome to basic RM1.7k, work 12 hours with only one day off for degree holders and fresh grads,” he wrote.
RM1,700 basic salary with commission
According to the job details shared in the email, the position offered a fixed basic salary of RM1,700 alongside sales commissions and performance incentives.
Other benefits mentioned included career development opportunities and exposure to modern automotive sales technology and digital methods of attracting customers.
However, what caught the poster’s attention was the stated working schedule: the email listed the working hours as 9am to 10pm, six days a week.
In the comments, the poster estimated that he would be working around 72 hours a week and questioned whether the compensation was worth the hours involved.
He also clarified that he had not applied for the position himself.
‘I studied for so long, but the salary is only this much’
The poster appeared particularly discouraged by the salary given that he holds a degree.
Responding to another user, he wrote:
It’s sad that I studied for so long, but the salary is only at this level.”
He also said that he had hoped for a salary of around RM3,000.
Another commenter suggested that RM2,000 would at least provide slightly more breathing room after EPF and SOCSO deductions.
The poster replied that with RM1,700, saving money would already be difficult.
Netizens question the long working hours
The post, which garnered over 127,000 views at the time of the screenshots, sparked discussion among Malaysians about fresh graduate salaries and working conditions.
One commenter pointed out that Malaysia’s Employment Act provides for a 45-hour normal working week.
According to the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia, amendments to the Employment Act reduced normal working hours from 48 to 45 hours per week.
The RM1,700 basic salary offered is also in line with Malaysia’s current minimum wage, which was recently increased.
However, the email screenshot does not explain how breaks, overtime or commission are calculated, so it is unclear how many of the listed hours would count as actual working hours.
Some commenters nevertheless felt the schedule was difficult to justify.
One wrote that even RM1,500 would be more acceptable if it came with a regular Monday to Friday schedule.
Another degree holder working in retail shared that they were also earning RM1,700 while working six days a week, adding that the arrangement had left them feeling burnt out.
Meanwhile, another commenter noted that basic salaries for sales positions can sometimes be lower as earnings depend heavily on commission.
