‘We have laws to address gender bias in salaries’

THERE are sufficient laws in the country to address discrimination in salaries based on gender, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Mahfuz Omar.

He said basic salary was based on qualification, experience and skills.

“The laws in the country are sufficient to ensure that all workers get the same benefits without (gender) discrimination,” he said in reply to Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid (BN-Kuala Kangsar).

The National Wages Consultative Council Act 2011 (Act 732) states that every employee is eligible to get a minimum wage without taking into account their gender.

The government, he said, had set the minimum wage at RM1,100 a month for the whole country starting in January.

“Malaysia has also ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention on equal remuneration in 1997.

“This shows Malaysia’s commitment at a global level that any form of discrimination (in wages) is not right,” he said.

Mahfuz said the ministry also prepared an index on starting salaries as a guideline for employers. He urged employees to complain if they faced issues on salary discrimination due to their gender.

Mahfuz said workers could lodge a report through their respective unions or with the ministry if they faced such problems.