Gaji mula RM2,500 tak banyak bantu graduan

The proposed minimum wage of RM2,500 per month for new graduates in Malaysia may not significantly impact their earnings, according to economists. Geoffrey Williams from Williams Business Consultancy Sdn Bhd explained that many graduates already earn between RM2,500 and RM3,500 per month, and the proposed rate is deemed acceptable as a baseline, but it still falls short of a living wage in major cities.

Yeah Kim Leng from Sunway University agreed, stating that while the RM2,500 figure is reasonable, it does not meet the standard wage required in urban centers. Barjoyai Bardai from Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia noted that the qualifications and skills of graduates do not always translate into higher wages. During the 2027 Budget, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the minimum starting wage for graduates and skilled workers would be at least RM2,500 per month.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said that this move would ensure that the pay ladder reflects the educational qualifications of workers and not just the national minimum wage, which has risen from RM1,700 to RM2,000. Williams pointed out that the starting wage for graduates is determined by market conditions, and employers can choose not to pay graduates at any given wage level.

He added that setting a minimum starting wage could lead to some graduate contracts not being renewed. "So, (RM2,500 minimum wage) is a double-edged sword. It may seem like a firm base to help graduates, but it also hampers their marketability," Williams said. Yeah Kim Leng noted that while RM2,500 is a reasonable starting wage, it still does not reach the living wage in major cities.

Kuala Lumpur residents need RM2,403 per month to maintain a comfortable standard of living, while those in Klang require RM2,161. For those in the East Coast and Pulau Pinang regions, the figure is RM2,180. Williams emphasized that the minimum wage should be determined through a tripartite negotiation involving the government, employers, and workers, rather than being set solely by market forces or arbitrarily by the government.

He argued that market forces have already pressured graduate wages by 65%, with 65% of them earning less than RM3,000 per month. Williams also pointed out that the newly proposed middle-income threshold, adjusted for inflation for newly graduated holders, has decreased by 10% over the past 25 years. He suggested that a comprehensive national wage for graduates and skilled workers would ignore the significant differences in living costs across regions and could have a negative impact.

"The RM2,500 figure can be maintained as a starting point, but the real figure should be adjusted based on employers' ability to pay in different regions," Barjoyai said. However, he warned against making RM2,500 a sole target, given the government's ambition to shift towards a higher productivity and income economy. "Setting a minimum wage without considering differences in productivity, industry conditions, and employers' ability to pay could lead to other negative consequences, including reduced hiring, delayed business expansion, and a shift towards contract-based employment arrangements."