PSM sets up hotline on minimum wage

SEMENYIH: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has set up a dedicated hotline for workers in Semenyih who have queries and complaints regarding the national minimum wage.

The party, who has long fought for the implementation of a national minimum wage, had already set up a nationwide hotline since 2013.

It has now added a special phone number for Semenyih-based workers.

“Other political parties come to Semenyih with goodies for the voters. We are unable to promise the sun and the moon. But we can pledge to help workers in Semenyih fight for their rights,” said Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul, the PSM candidate for the Semenyih by-election.

The PSM workers bureau hotline is 010-2402159 while the Semenyih hotline is 011-36818583 / 01131700802.

PSM workers bureau chief M. Sivaranjani said since the national minimum wage of RM1,100 came into effect in January, PSM had received 35 complaints on its hotline.

Some workers claimed that their employers told them they could not increase their wages to RM1,100, but promised to do it later. Others complained that they have lost their jobs or had their job scope changed, said Sivaranjani.

She said people should not be afraid to lodge complaints against their employers because workers have rights.

“PSM can help protect the anonymity of those who complain on our hotline.”

Sivaranjani said complaints lodged to PSM would be channelled to the Labour Department so that action can be taken against employ- ers who refuse to adhere to the minimum wage.

“This is something that should have been carried out by the government. But only PSM, a political party, has a hotline like this,” she added.

Under the present Pakatan Harapan government, the national minimum wage has been set at RM1,100 nationwide, effective Jan 1.

This is short of the RM1,500 promised in Pakatan’s GE14 manifesto, which the government aims to achieve within a five-year term.

Meanwhile, PSM central committee member S. Arutchelvan lambasted Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran over his recent remark that some employers are saying that the national minimum wage was too high.

“He (Kulasegaran) should change his job title from minister of human resources to minister for employers.

“His statement that the RM1,100 minimum wage is too high is a stupid thing too say, because the amount is already very low, with a majority of workers earning that level of pay having difficulty to survive.

“And this is a fact that has been supported by statistics and studies, including Bank Negara’s analysis that an adult individual living in Kuala Lumpur should earn at least RM2,700,” said Arutchelvan.

Recently, following a meeting with the Malaysian Employers Federation in Sabah, Kulasegaran said that employers find the increase in wages due to the minimum wage adjustment was a steep jump, causing a hike in operating costs.