Minimum wage rate being reviewed to keep it relevant - PM

 

The government is reviewing the minimum wage to ensure the earnings of workers remain relevant with economic conditions, said Muhyiddin Yassin.

The prime minister said the government is always concerned about the issue of minimum wage and will make efforts to better protect workers’ rights.

"I hope all parties would get involved and urge those wishing to voice their views and suggestions on this issue to participate through the platform provided," he said in his 2021 Workers’ Day address aired on television today.

He said this was part of efforts taken by the government in the past one year under its three-pronged strategy to help workers weather the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first strategy was to retain jobs, the second was to protect workers’ rights and the third was to create job opportunities, he added.

Muhyiddin also said the government was in the process of improving and amending labour laws, especially the Employment Act 1955 by widening its scope of application.

He said this included covering all workers in the private sector regardless of their salary, extending maternity leave to 90 days and giving three days’ paternity leave, reducing the weekly working hours from 48 to 45, and introducing a flexible work schedule.

Muhyiddin touched on the government's efforts to reduce unemployment, including the implementation of the national job matching and employment services portal MYFutureJobs, one-stop centre UpskillMalaysia and short-term employment programme MyStep. 

As of April 16, a total of 30,377 people had found jobs under the MyStep programme.

In a bid to reduce dependence on foreign workers and increase the number of skilled workers in the country, the government, through the Skills Development Fund Corporation, will introduce the Convertible Loan Policy Programme for Skills Training Loan at the Malaysian Skills Advanced Diploma level, he said.

- Bernama