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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) — The standardisation of minimum wage will only be implemented after new clauses such as daily wage payments is finalised by the National Wages Consultative Council (MPGN).
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem said the matter would be discussed by MPGN new members following the government’s decision to maintain minimum wage differences and reduce the minimum wage gap between regions.
“I believe a standardised minimum wage policy can be implemented nationwide soon.
“Several new clauses such as the minimum wage for employees who are being paid daily based on piece-rated will be taken into account in the new regulation,” he said at the presentation of credentials to MPGN new members, here today.
His text of speech was read out by Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kassim.
Twenty new MPGN members were appointed for two years, effective Oct 1 to Sept 30, 2017 and were led by Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong as MPGN chairman.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when tabling the 2016 Budget on Friday, announced that effective July 1 next year, the national minimum wage would be increased from RM900 to RM1,000 per month for Peninsular Malaysia and from RM800 to RM920 for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
The government has also agreed to maintain minimum wage differences between regions and reduce the minimum wage gap between regions from RM100 to RM80 per month.
Meanwhile, at a press conference after the ceremony, Shim said MPGN had conducted checks at 72,000 companies and found that 99 percent of them complied with the minimum wage regulation set by the government.
Malaysian Employers Association executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said the increase in minimum wage would help promote the use of local workers in various sectors which were currently being dominated by foreign workers.
Source: Bernama
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