THE Social Protection Contributors Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM) has proposed that the Ministry of Human Resources be reformed and renamed the Ministry of Labour.
"The renamed ministry can focus on the interest of labour in the country, while ministries such as Finance; and Trade and Industry can look out for the interests of investors and capital," said SPCAAM International Labour Advisor Callistus Antony D'Angelus.
In a statement today, SPCAAM also congratulated Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the recent revision of salaries for civil servants.
"The progress cannot stop here and what must be done is to put in place a plan for progressive reform.
"The next step would be to increase the national minimum wage to RM2,000 per month," said D'Angelus.
He said that while it will not be sufficient to meet the living wage level, it is a good next progressive step.
"We cannot rely on employers to do this voluntarily. This has to be driven at a policy level."
D'Angelus said arguments that the market forces decide on wage levels have been proven to be both untrue and used as an exploitative one-sided mechanism to oppress the lower income group.
"For those who continue to use the market mechanism argument, I ask in turn if they are indeed willing to remove all curbs and restrictions in workers and trade unions initiating industrial action?
“Can employees go on strike as they wish without following a process?
“Clearly, this cannot work as it would cause major disruptions in the economy. Rules and governing mechanisms are necessary and this cuts both ways,” he said.
D'Angelus said the private sector also has to do its bit in working on reforming the country.
“The first and biggest concern must always be the well-being of the people.
“Continuing to focus on profits of private enterprises as the primary objective of policies has resulted in a salary lag that has caused an acute cost-of-living crisis in the country,” he added. - The Vibes, May 4, 2024
