MTUC: Raise Minimum Wage So Locals Will Work 3D Jobs
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The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) alerted that the unemployment rate among Malaysians would rise greatly and employers may begin hiring more foreigners if the government proceeds to turn a blind eye to the current wage rate in the country.
MTUC secretary-general J. Solomon also singled out Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan for reciting the mantra of “any job is better than no job” at a time when the unemployment rate has increased amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“MTUC has time and again reminded the government and the employers that it is not the type of jobs that are stopping Malaysians from taking up these jobs, but it is the low salaries that are not equal with the type of jobs they perform,” he said.
Solomon was referring to Saravanan’s statement that Malaysians should “accept any job, even if there is a salary cut” in encouraging job seekers not to be too fussy and to embrace the available job opportunities.
“Saravanan must understand that the minimum wage fixed by the governments over the last few years were based on grossly outdated Poverty Line Index (PLI) of RM980 per household for more than ten years. Workers had been suffering from this wrong PLI for many years which has further increased the income inequality,” he said.
The MTUC has urged the government to raise the minimum wage first before telling locals to take up 3D work.
In July 2020, Malaysia’s PLI was updated from a monthly household income of RM980 to RM2,208 as it had not undergone a review since 2005.
With this revision, Solomon said the government owed it to poverty-stricken workers to review the minimum wage urgently to make up for years of apparent abuse by paying unfair and low salaries.
He pointed out how employers, supported by government policies, have managed to keep the wages for these jobs low so they could acquire high profits at the expense of poorly paid workers, largely foreign labourers.
“The employers have taken advantage of the poor foreign workers who are at the mercy of Malaysian bosses for survival,” he said.
Solomon then proceeded to question why the low-income category of workers are always targeted. “The government should set a ceiling instead of allowing interested parties to decide their salary and bonuses," he said.
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