Friday 29 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on May 7, 2018 - May 13, 2018

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and its secretary general J Solomon deserve a pat on the back, for setting the record straight at least.

Last week, Solomon said in a statement that the proposed increase in the minimum wage to at least RM1,500 in five years, announced by caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was not a gift from Barisan Nasional. He said this was already planned, and the minimum wage was due for a revision in July.

The BN has said in its election manifesto that it plans to raise the minimum wage on a gradual basis to at least RM1,500 in five years.

Solomon said the proposed wage revision was the one of the objectives of the National Wage Consultative Council and its technical committee.

“It is misleading for the caretaker prime minister to promise an increase of the minimum wage immediately if BN came to power because whoever wins, the minimum wage is already due for revision in July and therefore, is not a gift,” he said.

He added that it is the government’s social and moral obligation to ensure the contribution of the 14 million private sector workers is duly recognised with living wages and civil rights.

Kudos to the MTUC and Solomon for clarifying the situation.

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