PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) opposes the request by businessmen in the small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) to defer the National Minimum Wage Order.
MTUC president Mohd Khalid Atan said the request should be ignored as not all companies were experiencing low profits.
“They are asking for all 645,000 SMEs to be given deferment. That means there will be no implementation of minimum wage, therefore defeating the purpose of introducing minimum wages.
“However, we are agreeable that individual companies in ‘critical status’ or facing financial problems can apply for deferment, but this must be done on a case-to-case basis,” he said.
Mohd Khalid also called for SME associations to substantiate their claims that implementation of the minimum wage would result in bankruptcy and closure of their businesses.
Also present was Metal Industry Employees’ Union executive secretary G. Rajasekaran, who said that based on the number of SMEs, an estimated three million workers would be affected if the request was allowed.
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