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

Malaysia's Federation of Malaya Manufacturers (FMM) has warned that the proposed RM3,100 minimum wage by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) could cause a significant shock to the labor market and business structure. FMM President Jacob Lee stated that the jump from the current RM1,700 minimum wage to RM3,100 is unprecedented, given that it has only been implemented fully by all employers since August 2025. Lee explained that the labor market is still adjusting to this change.

The MTUC has proposed increasing the minimum wage to RM3,100 per month, taking into account rising living costs and the need for wages to better reflect workers' skills, education, and experience. Setiausaha Agung Kamarul Baharin Mansor said the minimum wage should reflect inflation, food, housing, transportation, and other basic necessities.

However, Lee noted that the proposed amount is close to the median monthly wage earned by formal sector workers (RM3,167 in December 2025), which would "press the wage structures of many companies noticeably". Lee said businesses would be pressured to raise wages further among skilled workers, leading to a significant increase in labor costs beyond the direct cost of the minimum wage hike.

He added that an abrupt and large increase in labor costs could slow economic growth, discourage investment and expansion, accelerate outward investment, reduce job opportunities, and lower the competitiveness of Malaysia's labor-intensive manufacturing sector in the international arena. Lee also warned that a RM1,400 or 82.4% increase would put Malaysia's minimum wage at twice the level of its Asean manufacturing counterparts.

He stated that if implemented without proportional productivity growth, it could weaken Malaysia's cost competitiveness in the global labor market.