The minimum wage for workers in the private sector is currently being reviewed and the government is expected to make an announcement on the matter by August.
Other matters:
- Social security coverage for housewives
- Reduce reliance on foreign workers
- Increase awareness of worker rights under labour laws
- Zero corruption in Human Resources Ministry
Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran said the National Wages Consultative Council (MPGN) will hold a meeting on June 13 (Wednesday) to review the minimum wage and other relevant issues.
“After that, the Human Resources Ministry will prepare a cabinet memorandum for a decision to be made by the government,” he told reporters after attending a gathering with his staff here today.
The minimum wage review is part of Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto to be implemented within its first 100 days of taking over Putrajaya.
Minimum wage in Peninsula Malaysia is currently RM1,000, while the minimum wage in Sabah and Sarawak is RM920.
Kulasegaran said the MPGN meeting would also take into account recommendations on other relevant matters, to fulfil Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto.
On a separate matter, he said the government is ready to consider suggestions for 1.2 million housewives to be given social security coverage although they are not working.
However, he said the mechanism for its implementation would first be studied to decide whether it is feasible in Malaysia.
He said the United Kingdom, for example, was a country that provided a social security net for unemployed citizens.
“Many housewives are under the B40 group and have no social security network. The World Bank describes the contribution of working and non-working women as equally important to national development, ” he said.
Earlier, Kulasegaran stressed in his speech that the ministry must have zero corruption, and strengthen its enforcement.
“I have also instructed the enforcement team of all agencies in this ministry to regularly conduct inspections at employment premises to ensure that they comply with the labour laws, ” he said.
He said the backlog of cases at the Industrial Relations Department and Industrial Court would be duly dealt with.
“We will also reduce our reliance on foreign workers and increase awareness on worker rights under labour laws,” he added.