The rising cost of living has led some university students to take up part-time jobs. In the past, young Malaysians rarely work before completing their studies, hence, part-time employment seems to be equated with financial hardship. This should not be so. In Western countries, young people work during high school and varsity years and contribute positively to the retail, food and beverage, and hospitality sectors.

Malaysian employment law allows young people to work. Under the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966, it is permissible for a 13-year-old person to perform any ‘light work’, which would include many jobs in the sectors mentioned. However, it should be noted that a female young person (below 18 years of age) is prohibited from working in any hotels or boarding houses unless it is under the supervision of her parents or guardians. Unfortunately, part-time employment among secondary and tertiary students is still associated with financial necessity, or in some cases, lifestyle choices (e.g. earning to make a luxury purchase).  

Should young people, especially university students be encouraged to work? In a competitive culture where parents attach disproportionate importance to grades (in comparison to soft skills), it is feared that part-time work could result in a decline in academic performance. Is this necessarily the case? 

Studies have shown that students who work do not necessarily perform worse than their peers. One might argue that work provides opportunities for character-building. Through work, young people learn time management and coping mechanisms – strategies that are vital to their emotional well-being. 

Facing workplace challenges could inform a person about their weaknesses and help them identify areas for improvement. University students might benefit from early feedback before joining the workforce in earnest. In short, carefully planned part-time work enhances a university student’s skills and graduate employability. Of course, many Malaysian tertiary students undergo internships. But the benefits from internship learning are amplified if students perform work with more consistency.

The hospitality and service industry could certainly benefit from an increase in university students in its workforce. Intelligent young people may experiment and explore effective ways to perform their work. That’s innovation! We often lament the lack of service culture in Malaysia, and we complain about the lackadaisical attitudes of the waiters and sales assistants. Might hiring university students on a part-time basis partly address this issue? 

Taking pride in one’s work is important to providing excellent service. Young Malaysians who are invested in nation-building are more likely to go beyond the call of duty to serve guests and tourists with warmth and sincerity. While the contribution of migrant workers to this sector should not be undermined, Malaysian hospitality employees are better representation of the country. By tapping on young minds to operationalise ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’, the possibilities are limitless!

To encourage more university students to work part-time, public perception must change. More importantly, our society should embrace the dignity of labour. Physically demanding jobs should not be deemed inferior to other forms of work. Part-time employment in the hospitality and service industry can be re-envisaged as a positive transition in a student’s life. It should be something to be proud of when reminiscing about one’s entry to the job market during the varsity years. That’s how the author feels about the varsity stint in the retail sector.

Associate Professor Dr Gan Joo Ee  
School of Hospitality & Service Management
Email: @email  

This article was first published in Business Today, 8 October 2022.