MINIMUM WAGE TO BE REVIEWED

I will present issue in cabinet next week, says Kulasegaran

THE Human Resources Ministry will present and review the minimum wage issue in cabinet next week. Its minister, M. Kulasegaran, said the issue had to be discussed with other ministers.

“I will bring up the issue of the RM1,050 minimum wage in Parliament as soon as possible.

“The ministry needs to get views from other ministers on the matter as well.

“Among the factors that determine the minimum wage of RM1,050 are the current state of the economy and the huge amount of (national) debt,” he said after meeting workers’ associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Yesterday, more than 100 workers from Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM), Friends of Women Selangor Organisation and a few NGOs held a gathering outside the Parliament building to call for a review of the minimum monthly wage.

Kulasegaran met the group and invited 20 representatives from each party for a meeting.

After the hour-long meeting, a memorandum was handed over to Kulasegaran by MTUC secretary general J. Solomon.

The minimum monthly wage is expected to come into effect next year.

Solomon said the prompt response by the Human Resources Ministry to bring up the issue to the cabinet was a good sign.

“If the government is unable to accommodate the recommendations set out by the technical committee, we hope they can refer to the stakeholders so that we can negotiate.

“That would be a better way to resolve the matter.”