“I can barely move at night” – Chinese Expat Tries Working as Waiter for a Day in KL, Earns RM100

Working in the F&B/hospitality industry doesn’t really earn you much unless you have been in the industry for a long time, or if you’re holding a managerial position. Not only that but the industry also requires you to work on weekends and public holidays.

A Chinese expatriate in Malaysia, GiGi recently decided to work in the F&B industry for a day to understand the experience, and she did so by working as a waiter at a restaurant in KL. In her Douyin post @女博士 GiGi 在大马, she said,

“The cost of living in Malaysia is so high but the salary is low.”

On her 1st day, GiGi reached her workplace at 11am and she already had A LOT to start with. The cleaning work was nothing as compared to what she had waiting for her, especially over 200 items on the menu that she had to try her best to understand and remember. Right before the restaurant opened its doors at 12 noon, the manager taught GiGi how to greet the customers.

GiGi had the opportunity to serve the 1st group of customers who came into the restaurant. She brought them the menu and served them hot tea and the food they ordered. Based on the video, GiGi seemed to be taking the initiative to learn more despite not being a full-timer.

She observed how her boss took orders from a group of customers so she could try doing the same. At the end of the day, GiGi earned RM100 for her 1-day salary. GiGi finished work around 11:30p.m. That was more than 12 hours of work, excluding lunch break.

“It’s so tiring, I can barely move at night.”

However, GiGi admitted that every job has its challenges and is tiring.

Netizens, on the other hand, had mixed reactions as to how much GiGi earned in a day. Some believed that it was too high for the industry in Malaysia, and others thought that it was too low.

“In usual circumstances, RM100 a day as a waiter is impossible.”

“That’s so high and impossible.”

“That’s honestly too low. Those who stay in JB will usually work in Singapore for higher wage.”

“RM100 a day is not that much. It’s not easy to be a waiter and it’s tiring. I’ve been a waiter and a chef and generally, both are not easy. As a customer, I don’t get angry at waiters unless it’s too much for me. I give them tips sometimes.”

To those who have worked in the industry before, what do you think of earning RM100 a day as a waiter?

Also read: Waiter in KL Takes Things Literally & Writes “SING SONG” Instead of Singing B’day Song to Customer