Many out of jobs, be grateful to have one even if salary low - Mustapa

 

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy)Mustapa Mohamed said graduates should be grateful if they get a job even with a low salary amid a struggling economy.

Mustapa (above, left) said this was due to a weak job market resulting from the economy shrinking 5.6 percent in 2020.

"It could have been worse without the measures taken by the government.

"So to me, graduates who are employed should be grateful despite the low salary as there are many others who are jobless.

"We expect that once the economy begins to recover this year, it is possible for salaries to increase," he said in a media conference at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan today.

Mustapa was responding to a question concerning the salaries of graduates that have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, he said that graduates' salaries last year was lower than usual because of the pandemic and projected that it would get better in the next three to four months.

The previous Pakatan Harapan government had set the minimum monthly wage to RM1,200 in major towns under 57 city and municipality councils, while the minimum wage remains at RM1,100 a month for the rest of the country.

The minimum wage came into effect on Jan 1, 2020, a month before the Harapan government collapsed.

The Harapan government had pledged to gradually review the minimum wage until a minimum wage of RM1,500 a month was achieved. - Mkini