Expatriates™: April 2010

Temu Janji Bersama " Expatriate"

Posted by Expatriates | Posted on 12:23 AM

Kami telah mengatur temu janji bersama dengan Encik Jaber pada pukul 2 petang, 3 April 2010 di Sunway Piramid Foodcourt. Kami kesana dengan memandu kereta dan tiba awal di Sunway Piramid untuk membeli cenderamata. Selepas membeli cenderamata, kami telah menerima panggilan daripada Encik Jaber bahawa temu janji akan ditunda kepada jam 3 petang.

Pada pukul 3 petang, kami akhirnya bertemu dengan Encik Jaber. Bagi tidak menganggu masa bekerja Encik Jaber, kami mengambil masa hanya selama 30 minit untuk menghabiskan temu bual tersebut. Berikut merupakan hasil temu bual kami:

Q: Where are you originally from?

A: I came from Iran.

Q: Is this the first time you work abroad?

A: Yes. This is my first time working abroad. Actually, I further my study in Hotel Management Course at Malaysia. After graduated, I did not back to my country and decided to stay for a certain period. I want explored my working experience in Malaysia and at that time I received an offer from Sunway Group. I had been working almost one year in Sunway Group as a Management Executive.

Q: What are the reasons for you choose to accept this international assignment?

A: I want to accept this international assignment in order to gain my working experience and improve my English language. As I had told you, I studied hotel management whereby related to offer service for customer from various countries. It is beneficial me if I could gain extra experience from others country like Malaysia’s cultural. In future when I back to Iran, maybe I could give a better service to Malaysian who came to my country. It might gain my prospect in looking for higher post at my country. I also can improve my English language during working in Malaysia. I could remember when I started working; I rarely can understand people communicate in English language. But now, I could understand and can speak quite fluent English. It is one of my satisfactions.

Q: Why did you choose to come and work in Malaysia?

A: I finished my study in Malaysia and I had adapted the environment at here. This is one of my reasons choose to work in Malaysia because I do not need to adapt the new environment in others countries. Moreover, Malaysia is a development country and this has encouraged me stayed and working here in order to gain experience.

Q: Is your compensation package now very different than what you received when you were working in your home country? ( If this is his/her first time as expatriate) How different is the compensation package you get now to the one you were getting before? (If they have been expatriates before)

A: No much difference between the compensation package in my country and Malaysia. However, the salary here is higher than what I could get in the same position in my country

Q: Do you have to pay income tax here or in your home country?

A: Yes. I did pay for income tax here but do not pay in my country.

Q: Would you mind sharing with us about others benefits included in an expatriate compensation package here?

A: First, I think the salary that offered at here is higher then those I have in my origin country. Company offered me the housing allowances which has reduced my burden on living expenses. Moreover, I also receive cost of living allowances such as transport and meal allowance. It is not easy to work under a different culture environment. But I could accept it because I think the working experience is more valued than the challenge that I faced. For me, working experience is more important than the salary.

Q: Should you want to resign now, are you held to a different set off rules and regulations as compared to local employees?

A: I cannot simply resign with a letter or give early inform. This is because I had signed for 2 years contract with my company. After 2 years, I plan to go back to my country. Expatriate package is different with others job. It is depend on how long your company wants you to stay and usually the working period has been predetermined before you agree to accept this work.

Q: Was it hard for you to adapt to life in Malaysia? What was the main issue you found most challenging in the adjustment process?
A: I think the main issue that most challenging is language. At first, I can not cope with the language problem and it has stressed me. My English is poor at that time and it has hindered me a lot in daily life. I do not have much choice and what I only can do is improve my English because it is the only one language that I am going to use to communicate with people around me. Food in Malaysia is not a problem for me because I had learnt to cook. I tried to adapt and improve my English language here and now I could communicate quite well with the customer. I had used six to seven month to adapt myself in Malaysia.

Q: Can you tell us what would be the measure of success of your assignment?

A: When my company satisfied and recognized my performance, I think this can consider I had done successfully in the assignment. For personally, I think I could overcome the challenges and gain precious working experience is my measure of success in the assignment.

Q:Between implicit return such as recognition and status or learning opportunity, and benefits such as allowances, and a balanced between work and life aspects, which is more important to you now?

A: In my opinion, recognition and status is important in any job. I prefer learning opportunity because I can gain more knowledge and experience. This is beneficial me because it guide me how to handle the challenge well in future.

Q: What is your opinion about the main reasons of expatriate successful or failure?

A: In my opinion, the strength of our self is very important. It can determine successful and failure in an assignment. It is hard to work abroad and we need strength to support us. Moreover, we need to be independent and then only can cope with the obstacle in life.

Kami bergambar bersama Encik Jaber

Langkah Kedua: Mendapatkan Temu janji Bersama Ekspatriat

Posted by Expatriates | Posted on 11:46 PM

Cara pertama untuk mendapatkan temujanji iaitu dengan menelefon dan menghantar email nampaknya tidak mendatangkan sebarang hasil. Kami tetap gagal untuk mendapatkan sebarang temu janji dengan eskpatriat dari mana-mana syarikat. Ternyata tugasan untuk mendapatkan ekspatriat ini tidak semudah yang kami sangkakan. Namun, kami tetap terus mencuba. Kali ini kami mencuba menggunakan cara kedua iaitu mencari alternatif untuk “ face to face”. Seorang ahli kumpulan kami iaitu Shed Hui telah berpeluang berjumpa dengan seorang ekspatriat secara tidak sengaja dalam satu program yang dihadirinya. Berikut adalah catatan Shed Hui mengenai pengalamannya itu.

"Saya menghadiri satu aktiviti bernama ' EYLN 2010' yang berlangsung di Sunway Piramid pada 29^th March 2010. Saya bersyukur kerana dapat bertemu dengan seorang ekspatriat yang sedang bertugas di sana. Saya pun mengambil kesempatan meminta keizinannya untuk membuat temu janji dengannya. Beliau yang saya maksudkan bernama Encik Jaber yang berasal dari Iran. Encik Jaber seorang yang sangat peramah dan beliau bersetuju untuk mengatur temujanji yang saya maksudkan. Saya amat gembira kerana akhirnya kami berjaya membuat temu janji bersama ekspatriat. Temu janji telah ditetapkan pada minggu yang akan datang iaitu pada 3 April 2010."

Langkah Pertama: Panggilan Kepada Syarikat

Posted by Expatriates | Posted on 11:41 PM

Tidak semua syarikat mempunyai ekspatriat, maka peluang kami untuk mencari syarikat yang mempunyai ekspatriat sangat terhad. Walaubagaimanapun, kami telah memilih lima syarikat iaitu Sime Darby, Price Water House, Petronas, 8tv dan Carrefour sebagai pilihan untuk mengatur temujanji bersama ekspatriate mereka. Kami telah membahagikan tugas secara sama rata dimana setiap seorang dari kami perlu menghubungi salah satu syarikat berkenaan. Walaupun banyak dugaan dan halangan yang kami terima untuk mendapatkan persetujuan menemuramah ekspatriat mereka, namun kami tetap tidak putus asa dan terus mencuba.

SHED HUI

"Saya bertanggungjawab menghubungi Syarikat Sime Darby. Syarikat Sime Darby merupakan sebuah syarikat yang besar dan sangat terkenal dimana ia mempunyai pelbagai bahagian dalam pengurusannya. Pada mulanya, saya menghubungi Wisma Sime Darby yang terletak di Jalan Raja Laut. Kakitangan yang melayan panggilan saya memberitahu bahawa di cawangan tersebut tidak terdapat ekspatriat. Yang ada hanyalah CEO dan beliau berpendapat, peluang saya untuk mendapatkan temu janji dengan CEO adalah sangat tipis .

Bagaimanapun, beliau tetap memberikan kerjasama yang baik dengan saya dimana beliau telah memberikan nombor telefon cawangan Sime Darby Plantation yang mempunyai banyak ekspatriat. Saya segera menghubungi cawangan Sime Darby Plantation, tetapi kakitangan yang sepatutnya bertanggungjawab melayani panggilan saya sedang menghadiri mesyuarat. Saya diminta membuat panggilan pada hari yang lain.

Namun begitu, saya tetap tidak berjaya untuk bercakap dengan kakitangan yang bertanggungjawab menguruskan hal ekspatriat ini walaupun saya telah cuba menghubunginya berkali-kali. Justeru itu, saya nekad meninggalkan mesej suara kepada kakitangan tersebut dengan harapan beliau akan menghubungi saya semula. Harapan saya tidak kesampaian kerana kakitangan tersebut berkemungkinan telah mengabaikan mesej yang saya tinggalkan. Namun, beberapa hari selepas itu, tidak diduga apabila seorang kakitangan Sime Darby yang bernama Cik Suhaila menghubungi saya dan bertanyakan tentang temu janji yang saya harapkan tadi. Kemudian, saya terus menghantar surat dan soalan temu janji melalui email kepadanya dan amat berharap beliau akan membalasnya secepat mungkin. Malang sekali kerana saya telah menunggu hampir seminggu tetapi masih tidak mendapat sebarang balasan daripada Cik Suhaila. Jadi, saya membuat panggilan untuk mendapatkan maklumat selanjutnya sama ada berjaya mendapat keizinan temu janji bersama ekspatriat atau tidak. Kejadian yang sama berulang iaitu saya gagal untuk menghubungi Cik Suhaila walaupun panggilan telah dibuat beberapa kali.

Akhirnya saya telah berbincang dengan ahli kumpulan supaya dapat menghubungi syarikat yang lain untuk mendapatkan temujanji dengan ekspatriat. Ini kerana, tidak banyak masa yang tinggal untuk menyelesaikan tugasan ini dan peperiksaan akhir juga sudah semakin hampir."

SURIYA

"Saya bertanggungjawab menelefon Syarikat Price Water House. Panggilan saya amat lancar berbanding dengan panggilan Shed Hui. Saya berjaya sampai ke kakitangan yang bertanggungjawab menguruskan hal ekspatriat ini tetapi permintaan saya untuk meminta izin menemuramah ekspatriatnya ditolak serta merta atas alasan maklumat pekerja mereka sangat sulit dan tidak boleh di dedahkan."

NOR AZIMAH

"Saya bertanggungjawab menelefon 8tv. Panggilan yang dibuat oleh saya hampir sama dengan panggilan Shed Hui iaitu terlalu banyak halangan untuk dapat bercakap dengan kakitangan yang sepatutnya. Namun berkat kesabaran, akhirnya saya dapat juga bercakap dengan kakitangan yang bertugas. Saya amat gembira apabila sampai kepada kakitangan bertugas iaitu Mr Joan, tetapi pada masa yang sama permintaan saya telah ditolak kerana syarikat mereka tidak mempunyai ekspatriat."

SITI AZIRAH

"Saya bertanggungjawab menelefon Syarikat Carrefour. Saya telah membuat panggilan beberapa kali tetapi masih tidak dapat bercakap kepada kakitangan yang bertugas. Maka, saya mencuba dengan cara lain iaitu menghantar email kepada syarikat Carrefour dan berharap akan mendapat maklum balas daripada mereka. Malangnya email yang dihantar langsung tidak mendapat sebarang balasan dari pihak Carrefour."

YING HWA

"Saya bertanggungjawab untuk menghubungi Syarikat Petronas. Ada pengalaman yang melucukan semasa saya menghubungi syarikat Petronas ini. Ia terjadi semasa kali pertama saya menghubunginya. Pada masa itu, panggilan saya telah disambungkan kepada bahagian "receptionist" , dan selepas saya berbicara dengan begitu panjang, barulah saya tersedar yang saya sedang bercakap dengan iklan Petronas. Saya merasakan ianya sangat lucu dan berasa amat malu sekali, mujur tidak ada yang mengetahui akan hal ini, terutamanya pekerja yang bertugas di Syarikat Petronas.

Selepas itu, saya cuba untuk menghubungi Syarikat Petronas beberapa kali lagi, tetapi keadaannya sama saja dengan panggilan yang saya buat pada kali pertama. Oleh itu, saya terpaksa berputus asa untuk menghubungi Syarikat Petronas lagi."

Surat Permohonan Terkini !!!

Posted by Expatriates | Posted on 9:23 PM

Bagi mengelakkan kesilapan tatabahasa, kami telah menghantar email kepada Dr. Rohayu untuk diperiksa. Berikut merupakan surat yang telah diperbaiki:

Faculty of Economics and Business

National University of Malaysia

43600 Bangi Selangor Malaysia

1 March 2010

Dear Sir/Madam

Request to Interview Expatriates in Boustead Holding Berhad

I refer to the matter above. My name is Stephy Chee Shed Hui and I am a second year student in the EPPM4253 Compensation Administration course at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

I am writing this letter to you on behalf of my group members to seek your assistance in allowing us to gather some relevant information for our course assignment on expatriates’ compensation and benefits. We learned through our background research of Boustead Holding Berhad that the vast array of business that you have may call for the employment of a number of expatriates. Thus, we hope to be given consent to interview these expatriates who are currently serving the Boustead Holding Berhad in Malaysia.

The Compensation course we currently take has introduced us to a variety of options in the compensation field. Nevertheless, we would appreciate the opportunity to talk with the expatriates and get more information from them which we would not otherwise be able to obtain ourselves.

We enclose here a list of questions we plan to ask the expatriates to give a clearer description of our assignment. We believe this will alleviate any concern that may arise in regards to our request for interview. We plan to conduct the interview within this month (March 2010) but will schedule it to the convenience of the expatriates as we understand how busy they are.

On behalf of my group members, I thank you for your attention and kind assistance. I hope to hear from you soon, with a favourable response.

Warmest regards

STEPHY CHEE SHED HUI

Surat Permohonan Kepada Syarikat Untuk Temu Janji Bersama " Expatriate"

Posted by Expatriates | Posted on 9:18 PM

Kami telah menyediakan surat untuk mendapat keizinan bagi mengatur temu janji bersama " expatriate" di syarikat tertentu. Berikut merupakan contoh surat yang telah kami sediakan:

Faculty of Economics and Business

National University of Malaysia

43600 Bangi Selangor Malaysia

Sime Darby Group

1 March 2010.

Dear:

Interview with Expatriate in Sime Darby Group

Based on the above, my group members and I are very interested to have an interview session with expatriate in your company. We currently are undergraduate students at Faculty Economic and Business, University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The purpose im writing this letter is regarding our interest in the compensation among expatriate in your company. For your information, we doing an assignment whereby regarding the compensation of expatriate which related to the course that we taking EPPM 4253 Pentadbiran Gaji dan Upah. Your company has an outstanding reputation in various fields and is our pleasure to have an interview with your company.

Our assignment has introduced us to a variety of options in the compensation field. We would appreciate the opportunity to talk with the expatriate and get more explore in the compensation that we might not obtain by myself. I can send you the questions that we going to ask. So that, it might be reduce your trouble if there has any privacy.

My team member and i would be pleased to come to your office at the time convinent to you. Thank you for spending your time from your busy schedule to read this email. I hope to hear from you soon.

Have a nice day ahead!

Thanks and regards,

Mereka soalan untuk " expatriate"

Posted by Expatriates | Posted on 9:06 PM

Sebelum membuat temujanji, Kami telah menyediakan soalan untuk sesi temuramah. Kami telah menyediakan sebanyak 15 soalan dimana setiap seorang dari kami perlu menyediakan sekurang-kurangnya 3 soalan. Berikut merupakan 15 soalan yang telah kami sediakan:

Why you choose Malaysia as your ideal working place?
Are your currently salary same paid as your country?
Are your salary range same as those expatriate in company?
Where did you pay for personal tax?
What is your opinion about the main reason of expatriate successful or failure?
How long are your maternity leaves? Is it same as local employees?
If you want to resign now, is there any different of rules and regulation between expatriate and local employees?
What are the main reasons for you choose to accept the international assignment?
How your company measures the success or failure of the assignment?
What is the main issue that you felt were difficult in the adjustment process?
How frequently communication/contact maintained between you and the home company?
What kind of feedback or reward you get from your company if you are success or failure a project?
How did your company measure the success or failure of the assignment? Why do you think that this is so?
Do you have any expectations about the assignment? What were your expectations of the assignment?
Between the relational return( recognition and status, learning opportunity) and benefits (allowances, work/life balance), which is much important role in your lifestyle while you stay in Malaysia?

Bagi mengelakkan kesalahan tatabahasa dan sebarang masalah lain, kami telah menghantar email kepada pensyarah kami iaitu Dr Rohayu untuk disemak. Berikut merupakan soalan yang telah diubahsuai oleh beliau:

Where are you originally from?
Is this the first time you work abroad?
What are the reasons for you choose to accept this international assignment?
Why did you choose to come and work in Malaysia?
Is your compensation package now very different than what you received when you were working in your home country? (If this is his/her first time as expatriate)
How different is the compensation package you get now to the one you were getting before? ( If they have been expatriates before)
Do you have to pay income tax here or in your home country?
Would you mind sharing with us about other benefits included in an expatriate compensation package here?
Should you want to resign now, are you held to a different set of rules and regulations as compared to local employees?
Was it hard for you to adapt to life in Malaysia? What was the main issue you found most challenging in the adjustment process?
Can you tell us what would be the measure of success of your assignment?
Between implicit returns such as recognition and status or learning oppurtunity, and benefits such as allowances, and a balanced between work and life aspects, which is more important to you now?
How does your company measures the success or failure of the assignment?
What is your opinion about the main reasons of expatriate successful or failure?

Salam Perkenalan

Posted by Expatriates | Posted on 3:52 AM

Salam perkenalan. Kami merupakan pelajar tahun 2, Fakulti Ekonomi dan Perniagaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.Blog ini direka untuk membincangkan tentang isu Expatriate dimana ia adalah untuk memenuhi keperluan kursus "COMPENSATION". Namun sebelum kami membincangkan dengan lebih lanjut, kami ingin memperkenalkan ahli kumpulan kami.