Protect Workers’ Right to Just and Favourable Remuneration

Joint Press Statement by 33 Civil Society Organisations on 14 September 2018

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, urge the Pakatan Harapan Government to review its decision fixing the new minimum wage at RM1,050, and to protect workers’ right to just and favourable remuneration.

“The Prime Minister’s argument that the Government cannot afford a higher minimum wage because it has debts to pay, but the vast majority of workers on minimum wage are in the private sector” said Aegile Fernandez of Tenaganita.

“At the moment low wages are effectively subsidizing the success of companies operating in Malaysia”, she continued. “After the election Malaysian citizens were asked to reach into their pockets to address the country’s debt crisis. It is alarming that the Prime Minister is not willing to ask the Malaysian businesses that employ minimum wages to reach into their pockets and address the wages crisis.”

Unions appalled at meaningless minimum wage increase

Press Statement by 10 Malaysian Trade Unions on 7 September 2018

Ten unions from across Malaysia were appalled at the Prime Minister’s Department 5 September announcement that the minimum wage would be increased to a mere RM 1050 on 1 January 2019, saying that the proposal fails to allow workers to live a life of dignity.

“The Pakatan Harapan manifesto gave many workers hope that a RM 1,500 minimum wage might be a reality soon”, said N Gopal Kishnam, Secretary-General of the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers. “Considering the already stagnant state of working class wages against the rising costs of living, RM 50 a month is utterly meaningless.”

Earlier this year Bank Negara outlined that the estimated cost of living for a single worker in Kuala Lumpur was RM 2,700, and for a couple with two children it is RM 6,500.

Consultation Meeting on Decent Work Agenda Proposal

Member of Parliament Klang YB Charles Santiago and the Decent Work Agenda Working Group (Where Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation is part of it) jointly organised a consultation meeting on decent work agenda proposal on 4 September 2018 at Shah's Village Hotel.

22 trade unionists, worker organisation representatives participated in the morning session consultation meeting, while 25 migrant worker organisations and NGO activists joined the afternoon session consultation meeting.

The purpose of the consultation meeting is to engage civil society in contributing ideas and opinions on the draft decent work agenda proposal as an effort to strengthen labour movement and migrant workers' position in Malaysia.