Communications Ministry studying ways to safeguard welfare of media practitioners, says Fahmi

KUCHING (Aug 8): The Ministry of Communications is examining ways to safeguard the welfare of media practitioners, particularly in terms of salary hikes across-the-board, said its minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said he would also be contacting the Ministry of Human Resources (Kesuma) to identify the number of media companies that have registered for the country’s progressive wage policy (PWP).

“It is my hope that we will be able to help out in any appropriate ways we can to assist those who are involved in the programme and to also include those who have yet to be involved in the PWP,” he told reporters at the Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA) exclusive dialogue and luncheon session here today.

In May, Kesuma in a statement said the implementation of the PWP and the Minimum Wage Order would help boost incomes of workers, drive Malaysia in speeding up growth of salary rates, and help tackle issues linked to low Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The ministry said this is in line with the Mid Term Review of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) to boost wages and achieve a more balanced distribution of income.

It also said that it is based on productivity and aimed at ensuring fairness to both employees and employers through a feedback concept.

On that note, Fahmi said the mechanism for PWP is already available and that quite a number of companies have already registered for the programme.

“The government has allocated RM50 million as an incentive for companies that participate in this programme.

“We expect the result of this effort that if 1,000 companies can register, it will be able to assist up to one million workers in the country’s labour market,” he said.

Meanwhile, on the luncheon, Fahmi said the event was to share the latest information on the government’s efforts to streamline social media platforms and to provide the latest updates on his ministry’s initiatives.

“I have also conveyed to KDJA to see if they can help Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) especially in managing assistance for Tabung Kasih Hawana.

“This is to ensure that our media friends in Sarawak, who are affected by issues such as sickness or if they have lost their jobs, will be able to get immediate assistance,” he said.

Around 30 media practitioners attended the luncheon including KDJA president Ronnie Teo, vice president Zulazhar Sheblee, secretary Firdaus Arasy Idris, and treasurer Chong Kho Lee.