WHILE employers question the minimum wage rate increase to RM1,200, workers say an extra RM100 is not enough. It seems to me that whenever there is a change in minimum wage, there is often minimum satisfaction all around. This perception must be changed. Malaysia’s desire to be a high-income economy is actually helped by workers getting a higher level of minimum wage.
Our over-reliance on foreign workers willing to accept low wages has hindered the nation’s transformation to automated high-technology industries that are needed to drive our economy forward. Experts argue that the six million legal and illegal foreign workers in the country have suppressed and stagnated wages.