Two jobs not enough (Guess which country?)

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/two-not-en...010009866.html

Many Malaysians work two jobs to supplement their income, but they now feel the pinch from the rising cost of living.

And to them, the suggestion by Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan to work two jobs was not only stating the obvious, but also unsympathetic.

Clerk by day, driver by night

Amiruddin Man, a clerk at a higher education institution in Penang, took on a second job two years ago, driving a taxi after he clocked out from work.

But owner of the taxi has since taken back the vehicle, and Amiruddin now uses his own car to drive customers.

"If I were to rent a taxi, it would cost me RM40 a day, which is not worth it because I can only start after 6pm, and business is slow on weekdays," the 31-year-old told The Malaysian Insider.

Amiruddin now uses his private car despite knowing it is illegal, but said it was a risk he had to face.

He said he was not a registered Uber driver because he could not meet the kind of conditions and requirements laid down by Uber.

"This is a 'teksi sapu' (illegal taxi) job, but that’s all I can do now. I just pray I don't get caught. I have been lucky so far.

"I am not getting rich from it. I only serve my regulars who contact me if they need a ride. If there are no calls, then I stay home. I only get an average of RM200 to RM300 a month, which is just enough to cover my monthly petrol expenses.

"I get better business during weekends and holidays. Sometimes my friends with small businesses call when they need help to deliver their products like gifts and cakes to customers. I take what they can afford to pay me. I don't fix a rate," he said.

Amiruddin admitted he was not allowed to take a second job without his employer's permission.

"I have colleagues who are also working second jobs, but we all make sure our other jobs do not affect our day jobs. We only do it after our official working hours.

"This means we have to sacrifice our time with our families, working nights and weekends. Sometimes I have late customers and only get home after midnight when everyone is asleep."

Together with his wife, who is also a clerk at the same institution, their monthly household income is less than RM4,000, out of which their expenses take up RM1,800.

He said they spent about RM400 on groceries, another RM400 on food at work, RM250 for petrol and another RM250 for after-school daycare for their son, who is in Year Three.

"We set aside RM60 a month for pocket money for our boy, and around RM185 for our utilities, Astro and phone bills. We also pay the RM80 maintenance fee for our home.

"We are still trying to cut down on spending so we can save more. Eating out is getting more expensive, so we cook and eat at home. Sometimes, we just have bread for dinner," he said.

The couple also have to pay their housing loan of RM500 a month.

"We are staying at my father's place in Bukit Jambul, which is not far from our workplace and our son's school. This way we can save a bit on petrol.

"My wife and I have a place which we are renting out for RM400 a month. It is not enough to cover the bank loan, but at least it is still something."

But Amiruddin does not blame his low income as much as the economic situation and the goods and services tax (GST), which have caused prices to go up.

"Even if my pay is increased, I don't think it will help much if things keep getting pricier. We get some government aid but it can only last you so long.

"It is tough for people with schooling kids. School fees, school supplies and other things are becoming more expensive too," he said, adding that he could not even take his son for a holiday outside Penang.

Juggling home, kid, and two businesses

Since 2014, housewife Siti Hajar Hasan has been running an online business selling supplements and Muslim women clothes to help lessen her family's financial burden.

Her online business, via Facebook, her blog and Instagram account, earned her a three- or four-digit income a month, depending on how hard she worked.

"How hard I work and earn depends on how much money my family needs for the month. I have not been doing it very seriously. It is quite time-consuming and I also have a young daughter and home to manage.


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