{
  "id": 10891015,
  "title": "MSMEs exempted from new minimum wage rate hike – Minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/msmes-exempted-from-new-minimum-wage-rate-hike-minister",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T07:42:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/127837/msmes-exempted-from-new-minimum-wage-rate-hike-minister"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong revealed during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will be exempt from the new minimum wage rate hike. The government will pursue alternative methods, such as wage subsidies under the Progressive Wage Policy, to raise workers' wages in the MSME sector. Sim emphasized the government's commitment to raising wages for workers, while also protecting local businesses, especially MSMEs, which are currently grappling with operational cost pressures and economic challenges. The target minimum wage is projected to be RM1,700, as announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the Budget 2027 presentation on October 9. The review and study on the minimum wage adjustment are currently concluding before the budget announcement in the Dewan Rakyat.",
  "summary": "THE Cabinet has agreed to exempt Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from the implementation of the new minimum wage rate increase for the time being. This decision was announced after the Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Developmen...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "MSMEs exempted from further minimum wage increases for now",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/msmes-exempted-from-further-minimum-wage-increases-for-now",
        "published": "2026-09-30T06:54:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "ACCCIM says RM1,900 an ‘appropriate’ minimum wage, warns steeper hike could hurt MSMEs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/acccim-says-rm1-900-an-appropriate-minimum-wage-warns-steeper-hike",
        "published": "2026-09-30T06:56:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "Cabinet exempts MSMEs from new minimum wage hike, for now",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/cabinet-exempts-msmes-from-new-minimum-wage-hike-for-now",
        "published": "2026-09-30T07:42:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}