The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) intends to propose to the Government of Malaysia for revision of minimum wages offered to civil servants, to help them manage life necessities in the current economic condition.

Datuk Azih Muda, president of Cuepacs, believes it’s high time that the minimum wages of civil servants be increased, considering the rising cost of living, particularly for those living in the cities, New Straits Times reports.

With the current RM1,200 minimum wage set by the government, (civil servants) cannot afford to buy a house, unless the government provides a 90 percent subsidy, under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat Programme, for instance. But how many of these subsidised houses can the government build?

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While the prices of goods will also increase, this does not necessarily mean the salaries of people will also increase.

In the current economic situations, people in the lower-income groups are finding it difficult to survive, unless wages are revised. Azih, who is also Kospeta chairman, was speaking to reporters at the Koperasi Kospeta Malaysia Bhd’s 35th Annual Delegate General Meeting at the Kuala Lumpur International Hotel here today. Also present was Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd (Angkasa) president Datuk Abdul Fattah Abdullah.

Azih believes the government should further consider revision of minimum wages to reach RM4,000 which is at par with the minimum wage with developed countries in the future.

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