Gaji minimum RM3,100 boleh beri kejutan pada pasaran buruh, kata FMM

Malaysia's Federation of Malaysian Trade Unions (FMM) has warned that the proposed RM3,100 minimum wage by the Malaysia Unity of Workers' Trade Unions (MTUC) could cause a significant shock to the labor market and the cost structure of businesses. FMM President Jacob Lee stated that a jump from the current minimum wage of RM1,700 to RM3,100 is unforeseen, considering the phased implementation since it was introduced in 2013.

Lee noted that the RM1,700 minimum wage has only been fully implemented by all employers since August 2025, and industries are still adjusting to its impact. Meanwhile, MTUC's Senior General Kamarul Baharin Mansor said the minimum wage should reflect the rising costs of living and basic needs such as food, housing, transportation, and other essentials.

However, Lee argued that the proposed MTUC wage is close to the median wage earned by formal sector workers (RM3,167 per month in December 2025), which would "tighten the pay structure of many companies significantly." Lee explained that employers would face pressure to raise wages for more skilled workers in higher wage groups, leading to a real increase in wage costs that would far exceed the direct costs of the minimum wage increase.

He also noted that the proposed RM1,400, or 82.4%, increase would place Malaysia's minimum wage at twice the level of ASEAN manufacturing sector competitors. Lee warned that if this increase is implemented without a proportional boost in productivity, it would weaken Malaysia's competitiveness in labor-intensive industries at the international level.

Last week, Labor Minister R Ramanan reported that the minimum wage rate is being revised to determine if the current RM1,700 monthly rate should remain unchanged or be raised to a new level.