About 47 percent of Malaysian employees expect a pay increase of between 5 and 10 percent this year despite the financial crunch, the 2010 World of Work Report (WoWR) said.

The annual survey conducted by Randstad, the world's second largest recruitment and human resources service organisation, said high employee expectations for pay packages and financial rewards were the challenges faced by employers.

It said in a statement today that 92 percent of Malaysians and 83 percent of Singaporeans expected bonuses this year, while about 70 percent of those surveyed in Malaysia feared they would lose staff to other markets as job prospects overseas improved.

General manager and director of Agensi Pekerjaan Randstad Sdn Bhd, Sahun Nadarajah said: "Branding is a powerful tool for shaping the workforce of every organisation.

"If the actual experience of being at work matches up with the company's values and projected employer brand, employees will be more motivated, more productive and more loyal," he added.

The survey also revealed that 29 percent of Malaysian employees were motivated by a strong understanding of how their role contributed to achieving goals.

The survey, conducted in February, polled more than 3,000 human resource professionals, business managers and chief executive officers across the Asia Pacific Region.

- Bernama