IPOH: Several NGOs have lauded the government’s move in honouring the workforce in the country with the implementation of various initiatives, while others feel that the implementation of the RM1,500 minimum wage has come at the wrong moment.
Family Wellness Club president P. Mangaleswary said the setting up of childcare centres for the public sector is definitely required.
She said such centres at workplaces will be very convenient for workers, as well as their children, who would greatly benefit from well-trained and qualified childcarers.
“Children’s exposure to the programmes and stimulating environment in the centres will enhance their personal and cognitive development.
“I hope this move will be extended to the private sector too, as it will help alleviate the problems many people are facing now due to the shortage of maids as well as the expected wage increase for new maids soon,” she said.
Mangaleswary said the announcement on insurance schemes as well as vehicle insurance instalments were also timely to help people who had been affected by the pandemic over the last two years.
“I also suggest that the government ensures more surveillance and enforcement of action against abuse of workers by employers.
“More regular checks at workers’ workplace conditions to ensure safety measures are in place must also be carried out.
“Also for certain sectors, it is important to check to see if accommodation is provided and if it meets expectations,” she added.
Ipoh City Watch president Prof Dr Richard Ng said it was a good move by the government, and even better news for the workers, especially concerning the free insurance protection scheme for self-employed workers.
He said the announcement is a welcome move since the majority of low-income earners – having lost their jobs during the pandemic – were finding it hard to support their families with wages below RM1,500 per month.
Ng, who is also an Ipoh City councillor, said to have a decent living, household income should be at least RM2,000, which is still below the poverty line.
“Nevertheless, this is a good start which many low-income earners have been waiting for especially during this period in time where the cost of living has gone up immensely.
“At the same time, I hope the government will do more to upgrade the skills of these workers so that they can become more productive to justify the increase in the minimum wage,” he said.
“Many employers are not too happy with this move, but they must be fair and treat these workers with dignity,” he added.
Ng said with upskilling, employers would be able to generate more income to compensate for the increase in wages.
He also said he hopes employers would not compromise in terms of providing a better work environment for workers.
“After all, a motivated employee will, in turn, have a high sense of belonging and self-satisfaction leading to loyalty and an increase in productivity.
“Low wages will definitely be unattractive, and this will have repercussions on a company in terms of hiring workers,” he added.
Cameron Highlands Vegetable Farmers Organisation president Datuk Chai Kok Lim said the minimum wage policy was implemented too hastily.
He said it should not have been implemented so soon in the country since a lot of businesses, including small-medium enterprises, were on the path of economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chai said, in the agriculture sector, for example, the prices of raw materials such as fertiliser had shot up by 100% to 130% since the movement control order.
“Besides that, the shortage of manpower is also causing operational costs to increase.
“Indirectly, the manufacturers have no choice but to increase the prices of goods, and this becomes a burden for end-users,” Chai added.
On May 1, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said these initiatives are to honour Malaysia’s workforce for their contribution to the country’s progress.
After the RM1,500 minimum wage announcement, he declared that workers in the country could look forward to more initiatives aimed at ensuring their well-being, including insurance protection for the self-employed.