Friday February 25, 2011
SIM LEOI LEOI and SYLVIA LOOI newsdesk@thestar.com.my
IPOH: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has indicated that it is “agreeable” to increasing wages for workers.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said this was conveyed during its discussions with various stakeholders on the issue of minimum wage for workers.
“However, they are concerned about how minimum wage is to be implemented in the country.
“We are still discussing the matter with MEF,” he told reporters after presenting citizenship to four applicants at the Ipoh City Council here yesterday.
However, Dr Subramaniam said his ministry would not consider any proposal to cut EPF contributions from bosses in the wake of implementing minimum wage.
MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan had been reported as warning that a minimum wage might cause unemployment due to local businesses’ failure to absorb extra costs.
There had since been proposals from various quarters that in wake of minimum wage, EPF contributions from bosses should be reduced.
Dr Subramaniam said his ministry would embark on another round of discussion on minimum wage with various stakeholders under the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu).
“We are confident of having the Bill to set up the National Wages Consultative Council tabled during the Parliament meeting in June.
“The council will then have the legal standing to decide on the minimum wage, which should be in place by year-end,” he said.
On the MyDaftar campaign, Dr Subramaniam said that as of yesterday, some 8,500 people, mostly from the Indian community, had submitted their applications for MyKad, citizenship or birth certificates.