Far From Home: Spending pressures, low financial literacy spell money woes for migrant workers despite higher pay

Dumitru Socican

Despite a rise in salaries in their host countries, family expectations, social media pressures and a lack of financial skills weigh heavily on the region’s workers abroad. CNA dives into the issue in the fourth part of a series on Southeast Asia’s migrant workers. JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR: Every night, a loud husky voice pierces through the hustle and bustle of Malaysia’s downtown Penang. As throngs of tourists pass by her restaurant, Rosa Angelina calls out to them in Malay, English and Mandarin,