KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government should set the minimum wage rate as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for all levels of government workers regardless if they were permanent or part-time.

       Tawau UMNO chief Ghazalie Ansing said, despite the previous minimum wage of RM1,200 a month, there were still many daily-paid workers in government agencies who were neglected even though they had been serving for up to 20 years.

       He gave an example of a monthly salary of RM968 received by a daily worker in an agency under the Sabah Agriculture Department since 2002 that has not been increased until today.

       Ghazalie, who provided a letter from the employee who worked at an Agricultural Research Station in Tawau, pointed out the worker received a daily salary of RM44 since Jan 2, 2002, without any increase.

       After deducting the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) deduction of 11% or RM128, the remaining monthly salary received is only RM840, he added.

       He said although the employee status was based on daily wage, it was illogical if the rate set did not change for 20 years.

       "The government needs to find a new mechanism to help these workers.

       "Hasn't the government set the previous minimum wage at RM1,200, which will be increased to RM1,500," Ghazalie said.

       "These workers need the salaries to support their families and even with the increase in the price of goods, how can these workers continue to live," he said Friday (March 25).

       Ghazalie, who is also Sabah UMNO information chief, said the authorities should immediately increase workers' salaries, including the provision of relevant allowances if any.

       A letter showing the monthly take home by a state government daily paid researcher for the last 20 years.