KUALA LUMPUR: A survey has found that the top-tier workforce of professionals in Malaysia are the second lowest paid among six markets in the region.
Professionals in Thailand, Taiwan, China (Shanghai) and Hong Kong are all better paid, with Hong Kong professionals bringing in the most annual base pay.
The "Total Remuneration Survey" by Mercer compared pay in terms of the affordability of iPhone 16 in China (Shanghai), Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Phillippines, Taiwan and Thailand.
The latest iPhone model starts at RM3,999 in Malaysia.
Mercer found that a professional in Malaysia needs a higher percentage of their annual base pay to afford the status symbol iPhone 16, a sign of a lower salary scale.
A Malaysian needs about 4.3 per cent of their salary, while a Thai professional needs a slightly lower percentage of 4.2 per cent.
The same goes for professionals at the management and executive levels.
Professionals in Hong Kong are the best paid, needing only 1.3 per cent of their annual base pay to afford an iPhone16.
Professionals in the Philippines lagged behind Malaysia's however, needing 5.4 per cent of their annual pay to afford an iPhone 16.