{
  "id": 10643104,
  "title": "Guan Eng says foreign workers should be excluded from minimum wage hike, calls for EPF levy repeal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/guan-eng-says-foreign-workers-should-be-excluded-from-minimum-wage-10643104",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T07:10:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/29/guan-eng-says-foreign-workers-should-be-excluded-from-minimum-wage-hike-calls-for-epf-levy-repeal/236990"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "George Town, Sept 29 — DAP leader Lim Guan Eng urged the government to bar foreign laborers from receiving any increase in Malaysia’s minimum wage, asserting that such a move would shield local businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), from escalating operational expenses. In a press release, Lim predicted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would announce a revision to the minimum wage during the presentation of Budget 2027 on Oct 9, after the government concluded that wage gains have not kept pace with improvements in worker productivity and corporate profits. While recognizing the need for higher wages, Lim expressed apprehension among local businesses confronted with fierce competition, increased compliance costs, taxes, and price pressures from overseas producers. He argued that MSMEs, which constitute the backbone of the domestic economy, are under mounting pressure in a weak economic climate and should be consulted prior to any policy modifications. Lim contended that any upward adjustment to the minimum wage should only apply to Malaysian workers, stating that foreign employees should not reap the benefits of the increase as they were employed under pre-agreed employment contracts. He also reiterated his demand for the immediate repeal of the compulsory 2% Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution for foreign workers, arguing that the mandate places an undue burden on employers without yielding significant advantages for migrant laborers. Lim maintained that exempting foreign workers from minimum wage hikes and abolishing the EPF contribution requirement would alleviate cost pressures on local businesses and protect the sustainability of around 1.2 million MSMEs across the nation. He implored the government to prioritize the welfare of domestic enterprises and ensure that wage-boosting policies do not inadvertently weaken the competitiveness of Malaysian businesses.",
  "summary": "GEORGE TOWN, Sept 29 — DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng today called on the government to exclude foreign workers from an...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Guan Eng says foreign workers should be excluded from minimum wage hike, calls for EPF levy repeal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/guan-eng-says-foreign-workers-should-be-excluded-from-minimum-wage",
        "published": "2026-09-29T07:10:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}