By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 18: The government is reviewing the RM1,700 minimum wage, with the National Wages Consultative Council set to decide whether to retain or increase the current rate.
According to a news report by Utusan Malaysia, Human Resources Minister R. Ramanan said the review would take into account key economic indicators, including the poverty line and median wage, to assess workers’ basic needs and employers’ financial capacity.
He said the review would also consider inflation, labour productivity, and the unemployment rate.
“The ministry has not conducted any specific study on a living wage yet, although Bank Negara Malaysia introduced the concept in 2018, estimating that the living wage in Kuala Lumpur, for example, was RM2,700 for a single person.
“The Statistics Department’s basic expenditure of decent living provides a more granular measure based on location, demographics and actual household spending patterns.
“The 13th Malaysia Plan also outlines strategic labour market reforms, including accelerating wage adjustments through minimum wage reviews that take into account the living wage,” he was quoted as saying.
The RM1,700 minimum wage applies to all workers in Malaysia except for domestic workers and apprentices. — DayakDaily
