MTUC gesa gaji minimum RM3,100 dalam Belanjawan 2027

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has urged the Malaysian government to raise the minimum wage to RM3,100 in the 2027 Budget, citing that workers who help generate large profits for big corporations deserve fairer pay. MTUC General Secretary Kamarul Baharin Mansor stated that government-linked companies (GLCs) and investment-linked companies (GLICs) must lead the way in offering better wages before the private sector is pressured to do the same.

Fair wages must begin with the management of GLCs and GLICs, with top managers enjoying benefits while lower-ranking workers receive the rest, according to Mansor in a statement. He also welcomed criticism from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over big corporations still offering low wages despite significant profits, while emphasizing that workers who contribute to those profits deserve to receive fairer pay.

On Monday, Anwar was reported to have said that the 2027 Budget will include steps to raise the level of wages for private sector workers in line with productivity improvements. The Finance Minister added that they will seek a balanced approach with the private sector to increase wages in sync with productivity, rather than relying on legal action.

Since May 2025, six GLICs have set a minimum wage of RM3,100 for permanent workers as part of the basic implementation of living wage standards. These include Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Public Investment Corporation Bhd, Workforce Savings Fund (KWPF), Public Provident Fund (DPBP), Malaysia Armed Forces Provident Fund (LTAT), and Hajj Endowment Fund (LHH).

Last year, Anwar told Parliament that 34 GLCs and GLICs had already implemented the living wage standard of RM3,100. The current minimum wage is RM1,700 per month. Anwar was reported to have said that the RM1,700 minimum wage should not be used as the starting wage for skilled or graduate workers.