PADAWAN: The government should re-consider the decision to increase the minimum wage of RM1,500 which will take effect in May.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Willie Mongin said the implementation would burden some small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially those who have just started their businesses.
Moreover, he said the country as well as new SMEs were rebuilding the economy which had been affected by COVID-19.
“I hope the government can revise its implementation because we do not want to see new entrepreneurs while developing their businesses, affected again because of the increased wages.
“We should have a win-win formula where the minimum wage does not put too much pressure on entrepreneurs,” he told reporters yesterday (April 16).
He hoped that the government would not just look at the increased minimum wage from one angle despite receiving pressure from foreign workers working in the country.
He said it was clear that its implementation should also be seen on the ability of the SMEs to pay the minimum wage in addition to obtaining survey results before the mandatory implementation.
“I hope the government will evaluate it so that it does not cause any problems,” he said.
He said the government should identify problems faced by SMEs before implementing the minimum wage increase.
“We do not want the implementation of this minimum wage to force SMEs to close down their businesses because they cannot survive,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government had agreed to approve the implementation of the RM1,500 minimum wage starting May 1.
