KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Bank Negara Malaysia does not foresee any turbulence in the labour market this year, as it expects continued employment and income growth, underpinned by the steady expansion of the services and manufacturing sectors.

According to its 2018 Annual Report, the unemployment rate is expected to hover around 3.3% to 3.5%, from 3.4% posted in 2018, while Malaysian workers are forecasted to see salary increments of between 4.9% and 5.4% in 2019.

It noted that as a result of the continued employment and income growth, household spending will stand to benefit, as more people have more disposable income.

Policy measures, such as the price ceiling on retail fuel prices, minimum wage adjustment and targeted cash transfers, will lend further support to household expenditure, it said.

In the long run, BNM said the introduction of government policies such as the tiered levy and social security contribution for foreign workers are a positive step towards weaning the economy of foreign labour, while spurring the creation of more highly-skilled and high-income jobs within the economy.