Emulate Singapore’s model to protect local workers, says Wee

Ayer Hitam MP Wee Ka Siong argued that implementing Singapore’s salary and foreign worker quota models could boost Malaysian incomes. The MCA president proposed adopting a framework that ties wages to qualifications, limiting foreign recruitment until companies meet local hiring targets. Wee cautioned about a two-tier labor market, warning that skilled workers would migrate to companies offering higher pay, leaving small businesses to raise wages and struggle with thin profit margins.

He urged the government to publish a productivity-based impact study, set an expiry date for exempting MSMEs from new minimum wage rules, and provide tax deductions for firms investing in automation and training to increase worker pay.