{
  "id": 10820337,
  "title": "Guan Eng wants foreign workers excluded from minimum wage hike",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/guan-eng-wants-foreign-workers-excluded-from-minimum-wage-hike",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T00:31:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1544335/guan-eng-wants-foreign-workers-excluded-minimum-wage-hike"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Guan Eng, a DAP adviser, has called for foreign workers to be excluded from any rise in the minimum wage set by the Malaysian government. The proposed increase is expected to be announced in the Budget 2027, which will be presented on October 9. Lim stated that any wage increase should consider the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had announced that the current minimum wage of RM1,700 would likely be raised, with specifics to be revealed in the 2027 Budget. Lim argued that any wage hike should not be applicable to foreign workers, as local employers had contracted with them based on previously agreed terms. He emphasized that the wage increase should not benefit foreign workers to protect the interests of Malaysians and Malaysian businesses. Lim also proposed eliminating the mandatory 2% Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution for non-Malaysian workers, stating that this measure imposed an extra burden on local employers and MSMEs. The EPF requirement started applying to wages in October 2025, excluding domestic workers. Lim suggested that the government should consult with businesses, especially MSMEs, before implementing any wage increase due to concerns over increasing operational and compliance costs. The government is currently reviewing potential wage hikes, with Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir noting that the government is considering the impact on employers, especially MSMEs, and the need to balance worker welfare with business sustainability. Anwar has mentioned that wage growth has lagged behind productivity growth in Malaysia, and the government intends to introduce measures to ensure fairer wages through the 2027 Budget.",
  "summary": "GEORGE TOWN: DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng wants the government to exclude foreign workers from any increase in the minimum wage.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Guan Eng urges Budget 2027 to shield employers from higher foreign labour costs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/guan-eng-urges-budget-2027-to-shield-employers-from-higher-foreign",
        "published": "2026-09-30T01:24:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}