KUALA LUMPUR (June 4): The new minimum wage rate for the private sector will be announced by the government latest by August this year, according to the Human Resources Ministry.

According to Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran, the new minimum wage rate is currently under review, and will be announced by the government by August once all approvals are obtained.

"We have said in Pakatan Harapan's manifesto that the upper limit for the minimum wage is RM1,500. We will definitely achieve that figure, but for now the quantum of increase is being discussed by all parties.

"As I have said before, we will engage with the stakeholders such as the unions and employers and others. We realise that some adjustments need to be done, in the sense that quantum of adjustment must take into account many factors such as productivity, whether the increase can be sustained, [the new rate] has to be a win-win for all, the employers, the government and the unions in this country," he told reporters at a news conference today.

The minister shared earlier that the Jawatankuasa Teknikal Perundingan Gaji Negara (JTPGN) had completed the review process of the Minimum Wage Act 2016, and JTPGN is ready to present the new rate to the Majlis Perundingan Gaji Negara (MPGN), a tripartite body that plays a role to discuss and recommend the minimum wage rate to the ministry.

MPGN is set to have a meeting on June 13 to study the review of the Minimum Wage Act 2016.

"Following that, my ministry will prepare a memorandum for the ministers and government to make a decision," said Kulasegaran.

The minimum wage rate is currently RM1,000 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM920 for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.