Minimum wage in Malaysia does not include overtime pay and allowances
- Claire Lee
Malaysia’s minimum wage of RM1,500 (US$343) a month only applies to basic wages and does not include overtime wages and allowances, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan in response to The Star.
SME Association of Malaysia president Ding Hong Sing has said that more than 90% of Malaysians employed by small and medium enterprises were already receiving RM1,500 or more monthly, if other allowances and payments are taken into account.
Given that the basic wages have increased, bosses might now resort to cutting their workers’ allowances, he noted.
He also highlighted that employers who could not afford to pay their workers the basic wage of RM1,500 might resort to downsizing their manpower or, in worst-case scenarios, shut down their business.
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“Foreign workers are getting RM1,200 because we have to provide them with accommodation, pay the levy and Foreign Workers’ Medical Examination Screening System medical check-ups. When you include all that, it is more than RM1,500,” added Ding.
