Minimum wage: Strict implementation a must, says Don

KUCHING (Oct 21): There is a need for stringent implementation of the minimum wage policy, of which under Budget 2025, the rate has been increased from RM1,500 to RM1,700.

In making this call, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia’s Faculty of Syariah and Law associate professor Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow, lauded the decision announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his tabling of Budget 2025 in Parliament last Friday.

“The Prime Minister has said that employers with less than five workers will be given a six-month deferment for the implementation of new minimum wage, until Aug 1 next year.

“In this regard, the government should strictly monitor its implementation as there have been complaints about employers not adhering to the policy,” said the academician in a statement.

Adding on, Muzaffar said it would be pointless to raise the minimum wage level if there was not stringent monitoring over the implementation of the policy.

“We need to ensure that all employers in the country fully abide by the new minimum wage rate in 2025. According to Section 2 of National Wages Consultative Council Act 2011 (Act 732), minimum wages refer to basic wages excluding any allowances or other payments,” he said.

He added that all local and foreign employees who have entered into contract of service with an employer shall be entitled to these minimum wages.

“Section 43 of the Act 732 reads: ‘An employer who fails to pay the basic wages as specified in the minimum wages order to his employees commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine of not more than RM10,000 for each employee’.

“Any workers who feel that their employers have ignored their basic right to receive the minimum wages should immediately seek help and lodge a complaint to the Department of Labour or National Wages Consultative Council Secretariat at the Ministry of Human Resources,” said Muzaffar.

Under Budget 2025, the minimum wage would be increased to RM1,700 from RM1,500, effective February next year.