Kenaikan gaji minimum berisiko meningkatkan kos operasi, kata persatuan kontraktor

According to MBAM President Kenneth Liew Kiam Woon, increasing the minimum wage poses a risk of raising construction sector costs, which may eventually lead to higher property prices and project fees. He emphasized that labor costs are among the largest components of the construction industry and that any increase in minimum wages could impact contractors' operating costs.

Liew highlighted that the sector's heavy reliance on foreign workers adds pressure, not only to basic wages but also to overtime rates and related payments.

Many contractors are tied to fixed-price contracts signed before this review, rendering it difficult to transfer those costs to buyers. If this burden remains unshared, it will ultimately appear in project costs and property prices, he told FMT. To alleviate pressure, Liew urged the government to implement incremental increases in minimum wages through industry consultation and to provide mechanisms for price adjustment in ongoing public and private contracts.

Meanwhile, President of the Malaysian Contractors Association Class F Malaysians, Tukiman Radion, explained that most small contractors would not be directly affected by the wage structure adjustment as many of their workers are freelancers or family members. However, the minimum wage increase puts pressure on some contractors with permanent staff for maintenance and cleaning tasks.

Many small contractors' projects are relatively small-scale and still rely on long-standing prices. Permanent workers often request higher wages when minimum wages are increased, while contractor payments from customers remain unchanged.