MALAYSIA:::Pelarasan gaji minimum wajar sama rata

Pekerja swasta Sarawak, Sabah hadapi kos lebih tinggi berbanding Semenanjung

// Oleh Jessica Jawing //

KUCHING: Peningkatan gaji minimum pekerja swasta di Sarawak dan Sabah sewajarnya sama rata dengan pekerja di Semenanjung Malaysia memandangkan kos barangan dan perkhidmatan di kedua-dua negeri itu lebih mahal.

Walaupun pengumuman kenaikan gaji minimum iaitu dari RM800 sebelum ini kepada RM920 kepada pekerja swasta Sabah dan Sarawak dalam Bajet 2016 bertepatan tetapi beberapa aspek harus diambil kira.

MALAYSIA:::MTUC: Budget’s minimum wage too little for now

In 2012, the Malaysian Trades’ Union Congress (MTUC) urged the government to fix the minimum wage ceiling rate at RM1,200 a month for private sector employees.

Three years later, the Budget 2016 has only revealed a meagre increase, not taking into account the fact that the cost of living has increased. 

The Budget 2016 that was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Friday had a minimum wage increase for private sector workers in the peninsula from RM900 to RM1,000, and from RM800 to RM920 for those in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

MALAYSIA:::It’s the government’s responsibility, says MTUC over proposed retrenchment fund.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has raised concern over Putrajaya's plan to set up an Employment Insurance Scheme (EIS), saying it does not offer sufficient returns or protection for majority of the workforce. MTUC council member S. Somahsundram said under the scheme, workers could be in a worse situation. Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib said last month that the government would announce its decision on the proposed EIS soon.

The scheme was announced last year during Budget 2015, to give temporary financial assistance, reskilling and upskilling for retrenched workers.