BN Government says private sector workers less important than government workers - so different MINIMUM WAGES?

Private Sector workers are not treated the same as public servants(or government workers) - For private sector, minimum wage increased only to RM1,000 whilst public servant's minimum wage set at RM1,200. Of course, private sector workers in Sabah and Sarawak are yet again discriminated when their minimum wage is fixed at RM920 - whereby most of these workers are Bumiputra, and the Constitution says that special privilege and concern will be accorded to natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

MINIMUM WAGES - that is all that we are talking about - that being the just wage that a worker needs to merely survive. But, of course some 'uncaring employers' still use that as the rate they pay their workers.

For the cheapest meal, it will now cost RM5, and if a person has 3 meals a day, that is RM15, and in a month, that will be about RM15 X 30 = RM450-00

Transportation Cost, let's be absurd and say RM2 - that will be RM60

Electricity & Water - RM50? 

Well, that brings it to RM560-00

Telecommunication - RM50

Television (Astro Minimum about RM35) - RM35

Worker has a wife, 1 or 2 or 3 children (meal cost) or other dependents, let's say illogically, we say RM300 

Now, that brings the expense to RM945-00

Now, add shelter - rent/monthly bank loan payments = RM55 left? 

Hence, in Malaysia really the minimum wages should be certainly more than RM1,000.

BR1M - Malaysian government admits that those families earning less that RM3,000[Now RM4,000] needs financial assistance, assuming both spouses are working, then the minimum wages should be more than RM1,500 (RM2,000).

See related posts:

PM Najib lied about minimum wage? Honesty is always needed from Government 

Malaysian Government still not paying its own workers Minimum Wage?

MTUC disappointed that after 2 years and 4 months, workers Minimum Wage rates still not increased

Malaysia minimum wage RM4.33 per hour, other countries RM30.88 - RM25 per hour?

For raising minimum wages, Egypt sued by Veolia, a French multinational?

 

MTUC slams Budget 2016 over minimum wage hike for private sector

23 October 2015 Print page BY V. ANBALAGAN, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Under Budget 2016, Private sector workers in the peninsula will see a minimum wage increase from RM900 to RM1,000, and from RM800 to RM920 for those in Sabah and Sarawak. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 23, 2015.

The Malaysian Trades’ Union Congress (MTUC) has expressed disappointment with the government over the new minimum wage increase for private sector employees as proposed under Budget 2016.

Its secretary-general, N. Gopal Kishnam, said he expected a RM1,200 minimum wage, similar to the rate for public sector workers. “We are extremely disappointed with the announcement due to the increase in living cost nationwide,” he told The Malaysian Insider in an immediate reaction after the tabling of the budget in Parliament today.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the 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.

The minimum wage does not apply to domestic workers.

Najib, who is also the finance minister, announced the minimum wage of civil servants to begin at RM1,200 and to take effect from middle of next year.

Gopal said the RM920 increase for private sector workers in Sabah and Sarawak was not realistic as the cost of living there was higher compared with the peninsula.

He said about 800,000 employees, including foreign workers, benefitted from the minimum wage scheme that first came into force in 2013.

Gopal previously said the union was banking on Najib to fix the minimum wage ceiling rate at RM1,200 a month after the National Wages Consultative Council failed to agree on an acceptable sum for an increased minimum wage despite holding three meetings.

A minimum wage for workers in Malaysia was introduced in January 2013, at RM900 a month for those in the peninsula and RM800 for those in Sabah and Sarawak.

Under the Minimum Wages Order 2012, the minimum wage must be reviewed once in two years and employers who breached the directive could be fined up to RM10,0000 for each employee.

At present, wages beyond the minimum rate paid by the private sector is based on market forces or collective agreements between employers and unions. – October 23, 2015, Malaysian Insider.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Sorry could not find the MTUC statement on their website - so, we only know what got reported - not the other points made by MTUC in their statement.