{
  "id": 10159092,
  "title": "MTUC wants RM3,100 minimum wage in 2027 budget",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/mtuc-wants-rm3-100-minimum-wage-in-2027-budget",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-27T06:40:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/27/mtuc-wants-rm3-100-minimum-wage-in-2027-budget"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has advocated for the minimum wage to be increased to RM3,100 in the 2027 budget, citing that current worker salaries have not kept pace with productivity and company profits. MTUC Secretary-General Kamarul Baharin Mansor emphasized that fair wages should begin with government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) before extending to the private sector. He criticized top management profiting while workers receive minimal benefits. PM Anwar Ibrahim had previously criticized large corporations for paying low wages despite significant profits, stating that workers who generated these profits deserved a fairer share. The 2027 budget will reportedly include measures to boost wage levels for private sector workers in alignment with productivity growth. Anwar, serving as Finance Minister, plans to negotiate with the private sector to raise wages based on productivity levels rather than resorting to legal action. Since May 2025, six GLICs have established a RM3,100 minimum wage for permanent employees under a living wage policy, comprising Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Permodalan Nasional Bhd, EPF, Retirement Fund Inc, the Armed Forces Fund Board, and Lembaga Tabung Haji. Anwar previously informed Parliament that 34 GLCs and GLICs had adopted the RM3,100 living wage policy. The existing minimum wage stands at RM1,700 monthly. The PM reportedly suggested that the RM1,700 minimum wage should not be perceived as the baseline salary for skilled workers or graduates.",
  "summary": "It calls for GLCs and GLICs to lead the way in paying better wages before the private sector is pushed to do the same.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) seeks RM3,100 minimum wage for 2027 budget",
    "Current worker salaries lag behind productivity and company profits",
    "PM Anwar Ibrahim supports fair wages for workers generating corporate profits"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "MTUC wants RM3,100 minimum wage in 2027 budget",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/mtuc-wants-rm3-100-minimum-wage-in-2027-budget-10160432",
        "published": "2026-09-27T06:40:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}