Gaji minimum RM2,000 bukan alasan naik harga barang, kata Fomca

Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim announced plans to increase the minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000 per month starting in June 2027, which is expected to benefit over four million workers. Peniaga (business owners) should not use the minimum wage increase to unjustly raise prices, according to the Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca).

Saravanan Thambirajah, Fomca's Executive Director, emphasized the need for the government to monitor prices to ensure the wage increase does not disproportionately burden workers' rising living costs. Fomca supports the government's plan to raise the minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000 per month, which can enhance workers' purchasing power.

However, Saravanan stated the government should clarify the categories of workers and employers subject to the new rate, including exemptions for micro, small, and medium enterprises (PMKS). The most crucial aspect is for the government to monitor the potential for unjust price increases of goods and services due to the wage hike, he told FMT.

In the 2027 Budget Announcement, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the increase in the minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000 per month starting in June 2027, benefiting more than four million workers. However, the annual sales of PMKS, valued at less than RM50 million, were exempted from the new rate to allow them to adjust their business models.

S Mageswari, President of the Malaysian Consumers Association (CAP) in Penang, welcomed the increase but felt it was insufficient to cover workers' living needs. "CAP has long advocated for a higher minimum wage, including the push for a decent wage. A minimum wage increase is necessary to ensure social and economic justice. The increase should be accompanied by measures to control inflation and monitor prices to ensure the benefits reach the people without burdening their living costs," she said.

Mageswari also emphasized that workers in the PMKS sector should also benefit from the new minimum wage and should not be left behind. She urged the government to provide additional support, including assistance in transitioning for PMKS, to help employers adapt to the new wage hike. "Every worker deserves a decent life and the ability to comfortably support their family," she said.