Cover image via Taste Atlas
A job posting for a Roti Canai Flipper in Melbourne, Australia is causing quite a stir online, especially among Malaysians doing the math and wondering if flipping dough overseas could be their golden ticket out
The full-time role, posted by Roti Bar, a Malaysian street food restaurant in Melbourne, pays AUD70,000 to AUD78,000 a year — that's about RM220,000 to RM245,000 annually.
For the job, Roti Bar is looking for someone with experience making roti canai from scratch, specifically someone who can handle high-volume orders and maintain food hygiene standards.
"Are you a master of the flip and fold? Do you have the skill, speed, and finesse to make the perfect, fluffy, golden roti canai? If you take pride in traditional techniques and can serve up delicious, crispy roti that keeps customers coming back — we want you!" reads the job listing.
The role also offers staff meals, kitchen perks, and visa sponsorship for suitable candidates.
Image via Seek
The listing, which popped up on Seek, has since gone viral on the r/Malaysia subreddit, where netizens are debating whether it's worth it
Some Malaysians see the pay as solid, especially for a role that doesn't require formal education or high-level training.
"AUD70,000 is considered a lot if you're frugal in spending and for a starting in Melbourne. Of course you should have [an] exit plan, and improve from there. Not flip roti canai all the way," said one.
"AUD70,000 is not as bad as y'all think, in Melbourne anyways… You would be making more than most junior engineers in Malaysia," noted another.
"For a roti canai flipper, it's decent considering it's not a job that requires studying, just decent kitchen work experience," remarked one.
Others argue that while the number looks impressive on paper, the cost of living in Melbourne paints a different picture.
"Stop converting currencies ffs. AUD70,000 is barely enough to live in Melbourne," said one.
"TL;DR: AUD70,000 is good money but the white collar people here are glorifying it like it allows for a RM210,000 salary lifestyle," noted another, who broke it down further:
- Tax: Around AUD15,000 off the top
- Rent: AUD26,000/year for a studio in the CBD
- Transport: AUD2,000/year for public, way more if you drive
- Groceries + utilities + Internet: Another AUD5,000 or so
"Suddenly from that AUD70,000 — you've spent AUD50,000 on just basic costs," they added.
Another user chimed in, "Not much if you have a family and are planning to buy a house in Australia… Better than working on a farm, but it's also a tough job constantly standing and working in a hot kitchen."
Image via Roti Bar (Facebook)
However, some Melburnians offered middle-ground takes
"I'm not sure what luxurious life you'd be living, but AUD70,000 is a pretty good wage… The minimum wage here is less than AUD50,000 per annum. There's lots of people I work with that get by with much less," said one.
They also note that if you're sharing accommodation, rent could drop significantly.
"A shared apartment is around AUD1,500 a month per room, and half of that if you're a couple. My tenants in Southbank are paying an average of AUD10,000 a year in rent/person," said another.
And yes, savings in AUD could go a long way if invested or sent home.
"If you save AUD20,000… that's RM60,000 vs RM20,000 worth in international stocks," a commenter pointed out.
While AUD70,000 to AUD78,000 to flip roti canai might sound wild when you convert it to ringgit, Malaysians in Australia say it's really just a modest working-class wage, especially in a city like Melbourne
It won't get you a bungalow in Bangsar, but for a skilled kitchen job that includes visa sponsorship, free meals, and a supportive workplace — some reckon it's not a bad starting point.
You can swim in dhal, just don't expect to be living like Crazy Rich Asians.
Image via Roti Bar
So, if you are interested, you can submit your application here.
