KUALA LUMPUR – The unity government must provide “flexible” subsidies to micro businesses to effectively sustain the RM1,500 minimum wage policy, said the Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC).
In a statement today, LLRC co-chairs N. Gopal Kishnam and Irene Xavier have urged Pakatan Harapan (PH) to keep its election pledges in 2018 when it promised that the government would provide more subsidies to micro businesses and help them cope with the added cost.
“Given that PH is dominating the unity government, to ensure its policy coherence and to earn respect from Malaysian workers and unions, LLRC urges the human resources minister to maintain the minimum wage of RM1,500 for all enterprises and a flexible subsidy based on SMEs’ capacity should be given as minimum wage ‘top-up’.”
Yesterday, the government announced that the implementation of the RM1,500 minimum wage has been suspended for companies with less than five employees until July 1 next year.
According to Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar, this move is aimed at helping such companies adjust their cash flow and improve their financial standing. – The Vibes, December 28, 2022
