KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 – The government is studying a Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) proposal on the implementation of living wage in the country, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said the BNM 2017 Annual Report had proposed a living wage rate of RM2,700 for an unmarried adult in urban areas, RM4,500 for a couple without children, and RM6,500 for a couple with two children.
“In this connection, the government needs to study carefully and identify the most suitable model for our country,” he said when replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) on whether the government would consider implementing proposals on a progressive wage model.
Sivakumar said the progressive wage model needed a more detailed study that is in line with the current economic and labour conditions in Malaysia.
He said the implementation of minimum salary and progressive wage had a common objective of giving protection to workers who were receiving the lowest salaries.
He also said that from May to December 2022, the Peninsular Malaysia Manpower Department had conducted 17,565 statutory inspections on employers regarding the implementation of the minimum wage order.
Of this number, 2,448 compliance recommendations had been issued for violation of the order, he said.
He said in the same period, the Sabah Manpower Department had conducted 5,707 inspections and issued 128 compliance recommendations, while its Sarawak counterpart had carried out 5,490 inspections and made 83 compliance proposals.
Sivakumar was replying to a supplementary question from Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng), who asked about the extent of field monitoring and enforcement done by the ministry and the action taken against those who violated the order.
