RM100 increase to minimum wage 'too little', says Harapan MP

PARLIAMENT | The increase of RM100 to the federal minimum wage from RM1,100 to RM1,200 as announced in the Budget 2020 is too little, said Wong Chen.

"This is an issue of principle, to eliminate economic desperation of our very poorest Malaysians," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today during his debate on the Budget 2020.

Wong, who is also Subang MP, also urged the government to raise the minimum wage to RM1,500 a month next year.

"If our ministers can live on RM1,200 a month, then do it, but if you cannot, then increase it.

"So I ask for next year, the government should increase the minimum wage to RM1,500 a month," Wong said

Budget 2020 was tabled by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng last Friday, where he said the minimum wage would be raised to RM1,200, but only for those in certain major cities in the country.

He also said later the list of cities affected would be announced by the Human Resources Ministry.

Before the 14th General Election, Pakatan Harapan had said in its manifesto that it would raise the minimum wage to RM1,500 per month nationwide within the first term of their government. - Mkini