The Government has decided on the minimum wage issue setting the salary as RM1500, which will take effect from May 1 onward.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri made the announcement during his party speech, he added that the Government has approved the minimum wage and will be moving forward with the implementation. The issue has been in much contention with employers calling for better consultation before moving forward with the decision. Recently the Malaysian Employers Federation President argued that the business climate was too weak to kick off the RM1500 minimum wage plan as it will add to the cost of doing business.
President Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the majority of Malaysian businesses are not ready and not in a position to implement the proposed new minimum wage as they are still reeling from the economic shock brought about by COVID-19 and the devastating impact of the recent major floods.
Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan had hinted the minimum wage of RM1500 will be implemented in a month or two recently in Parliament.
Malaysia has one of the lowest salary ranges in the region, many workers struggle to make ends meet especially those working in the urban districts like KL and PJ. The Ministry was also under fire from the Indonesian Government on the minimum wage issue, as domestic workers from the nation refused to work in Malaysia on salary matters among others.
