Ambil kira keperluan majikan untuk semak semula gaji minimum, kerajaan diberitahu

Small business and industry groups want the government to consider their needs and challenges when drafting plans to raise the minimum wage. The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) wants any wage increase to be linked to productivity. On Tuesday, Human Resources Minister Ramanan said the government is reviewing proposals to raise the minimum wage from RM1,700 per month.

However, he said the final decision on whether to keep or raise the rate will be made by the National Wage Consultative Council. Samenta President William Ng said a broad wage increase would put a heavy strain on the profit margins of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He said small businesses would struggle to absorb the higher operating costs.

"Large companies, multinational corporations (MNCs), government-linked companies (GLCs) and SMEs in the Klang Valley can easily absorb the hike as the median wages for large companies and SMEs in market centers are much higher than the current minimum wage," he told FMT. "However, micro and small businesses operating in small towns or rural areas, which have very different living costs and business sizes, will suffer the most," he said.

He said in the short term, businesses would have to pass on wage hikes to consumers. This would push inflation and undermine the government's efforts to control it. He said if a wage increase is necessary, the government should help SMEs reduce other operating costs by lowering fuel subsidies or offering rebates on utility tariffs.

In his announcement on Tuesday, Ramanan said the review would take into account factors such as poverty lines and median wages. He said this would assess the basic needs of workers and employers' ability to pay, in addition to inflation, labor productivity and unemployment rates. The minimum wage was raised to its current level in August 2025 from RM1,500 per month. It applies to all workers in Malaysia, except domestic workers.