KOTA KINABALU: The government should provide incentives for small and medium enterprises to implement the RM1,500 minimum wage, says the Sabah Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).

       Its vice-chairman Margaret Chin said the congress was happy that the implementation of the new minimum wage of RM1,500 would begin on Labour Day (May 1).

       However, she added that the MTUC hopes the government would subsidise smaller businesses who were unable to pay the increased minimum wage.

       "The subsidies could come through incentives or assistance for a period of six months to encourage and motivate SMEs to keep their workers instead of letting them re-strategise the labour cost, including possible job cuts," Chin said in a statement on Saturday (April 30).

       She added that such incentives put in place during the movement control order had been beneficial for both SMEs and their workers.

       Chin also said that the government should carry out an in-depth study to look at the rising cost of goods.

       She said this is severely affecting the cost of living of the people, especially in Sabah.

       Chin also urged the state government not to leave workers out of the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan and ensure that they get to achieve better and higher salaries.

       "Sabah workers also want to enjoy the fruits of Sabah Maju Jaya and don't want to be left behind and always stay in the B40 group," she added.

       Sabah MTUC also urged the relevant agencies to look into worker complaints of companies not remitting their contribution to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Socso and the Employees Insurance Scheme.

       She said Sabah MTUC also received complaints that several companies do not issue monthly salary slips, which are compulsory.

       "It remains a big issue for workers as these companies either don't provide it or claim that they were using e-salary payment slips which the staff find difficult to download as their handphones have limited functions," Chin added.