Employers have again been told of the new minimum wage that takes effect on July 1 and they risk being fined if they do not adhere to the law.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Ismail Abd Muttalib (pic) said the new wages are RM1,000 a month for workers in the Peninsular and RM920 for Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak.
“I advise employers to pay their workers according to the new minimum wage.
“Don’t wait until complains are lodged as it would mean ending up paying a R10,000 fine instead of trying to save RM1,000,” Ismail told Su Keong Siong (DAP-Ipoh Timor) in Dewan Rakyat.
Ismail said the new minimum wage would remain in force until 2018 and the National Wages Consultative Council(NWCC) is empowered to carry a review.
“The new minimum wages cover local and foreign workers. However, it does not cover those employed as domestic helpers,” he added.
The current minimum wage for workers in the Peninsular is RM900 a month and those in East Malaysia at RM800.
Since its implementation in January 2014, Ismail said that enforcement officers had conducted checks on 81,200 employers.
“1,172 employers or 1% failed to implement the minimum wage,” he said adding that 190 employers were charged in court.
Ismail added that 472 wage disputes were lodged with the Manpower Department, of which 463 were settled.
He said that 618 labour disputes were handled by the department, of which 270 cases were settled with 62 cases still ongoing.
news source & image credits: thestar.com.my
