KUALA LUMPUR – The minimum wage is being reviewed to ensure its relevance amid the current economy, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The prime minister said the government is always concerned about the issue, and will strive to better protect workers’ rights.
“I hope all parties will get involved, and I urge those who wish to voice their views and suggestions on the issue to participate through the platform provided,” he said in his 2021 Labour Day address aired on TV today.
Muhiyddin said this is part of his administration’s efforts over the past year via its three-pronged strategy to help workers weather the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first prong is to retain jobs, the second is protecting workers’ rights, and the third is creating employment, he said.
Muhyiddin said the government is in the process of improving and amending labour laws, especially the Employment Act 1955, by widening the scope of application.
He said this includes covering all workers in the private sector, regardless of their salary, extending maternity leave to 90 days, granting three days’ paternity leave, reducing weekly work hours from 48 to 45, and introducing a flexible work schedule.
He spoke of Putrajaya’s efforts to reduce unemployment, including national job-matching portal MYFutureJobs, one-stop centre UpskillMalaysia, and short-term employment programme MySTEP.
As of April 16, a total of 30,377 people had secured jobs via MySTEP.
In a bid to reduce dependence on foreign workers and increase skilled labour in the country, said Muhyiddin, the government, through the Skills Development Fund Corporation, will introduce the Convertible Loan Policy Programme for Skills Training Loans at the Malaysian Skills Advanced Diploma level.
Given that the movement control order to contain Covid-19 has forced many training institutions to close, the government took the initiative to create the e-LATiH learning hub, which the prime minister said will allow people to access, without charge, over 300 modules on skills development tailored to industry needs.
He described workers as frontliners of the national economy who play a key role in ensuring prosperity at all levels of society.
Despite the measures rolled out by the government to assist workers, there are still groups that need more time to recover, he said, adding that he is confident the rakyat are resilient.
“Your role as a strategic partner in developing the country’s economy all this while is very important and much appreciated by the government.” – Bernama, May 1, 2021
