Employees must get minimum wage

Employees who do not get the minimum wage specified by law should report it to the Labour Department. This has been recommended by the Minister of Human Resource, Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who said once the minimum wage comes into effect, it would be compulsory for employers to comply or risk being fined.

 

"The department will be monitoring the situation. But employees who feel they are not being given their rights can approach the department directly," he said. “Once the provisions for the minimum wage became law, employers who fail to comply would be liable to a fine of not more than RM10, 000 for each employee.”

 

Malaysia has taken its first step in having a minimum wage for workers with the passing of the National Wages Consultative Council Bill in the Dewan Rakyat before. The Human Resource Ministry in 2009 has reported that 33.8% of the 1.3 million workers covered earned less than RM700 a month. This is below the poverty line as an employee should earn at least RM720 a month.

 

Dr Subramaniam said the proposed new legislation for a minimum wage provides for the setting up of a National Wages Consultative Council which would recommend an appropriate minimum wage. The council would make suggestions to the government based on sectors, types of employment and regions.

 

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress had earlier asked for the minimum wage to be set at RM900 monthly and minimum wage review every two years. [Rufaidah]