JOHOR BARU: Taking her cue from the government's "Keluarga Malaysia" (Malaysian family) concept, the general manager of a resort in Desaru is prioritising her employees.
Lim Lily Lian, general manager of Sands and Sandals Desaru Beach Resort and Spa, presented rations and foodstuff to 33 employees who have had to take a pay cut because of austerity measures adopted by the hotel in the face of a business slowdown.
"Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we need to extend a helping hand to our staff who are struggling to cope with reduced salaries," said Lim.
"The staff have served the hotel for many years, so we consider them as part of our family. You may say they are 'keluarga kita'," she noted.
As a filial gesture to long serving staff, she said her resort gave each of the selected 33 employees two bags of rice, cooking oil, flour, eggs, biscuits, noodles and sardines.
The money to purchase the donated items was raised amongst Lim and six heads of departments of the resort.
"The managers felt we have to do our part because we can cope better with the constraints imposed by the business slowdown caused by the pandemic. Let the have-some give to the have-nots," she said.
Lim observed the pandemic has affected the families of breadwinners who have either lost their jobs or are on reduced salaries.
According to her, jobs are scarce now in Desaru and Kota Tinggi with many establishments not recruiting at all. Hence, many young people are jobless.
Prior to the pandemic, Sand and Sandals had 198 staff members, but after retrenchments, only 59 remain on the payroll.
"Even now I have been receiving several applications for various types of jobs at the resort, but we are not recruiting at this period," she said, adding that many of the job seekers said they were even willing to work for half pay.
Lim reassured the hotel's retrenched employees that, if business picked up in the next few months, they would be given priority for re-employment.
Nurul Nadia Salleh, 28, who works as a spa therapist, said she is thankful to the resort for providing her with the rations.
"I'm a divorcee and have three schoolgoing children," said Nurul, who has worked for over three years at the resort.
"With the current pandemic and pay cuts, it is tough to make ends meet when you are the sole breadwinner," she lamented.
Muhammad Fayyadh Adnan, 33, who works in the housekeeping section, said he felt relieved at receiving groceries from the management.
He said with the rations, his family can have proper meals at home for a few weeks.
He said the 208-room hotel has now become like his family home.
Salahuddin Farid, 34, a gardener, said: "I have worked here for four years. They have looked after me well and for this I'm grateful."
Salahuddin, whose wife is not working, remarked: "It was a surprise when told that I was one of the recipients for the groceries. I'm grateful to the management."
Lim said there was no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people in difficult straits.