LABUAN: The Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce says to periodically keep increasing the monthly minimum wage of employees is not only solution to tackle the rising cost of living.
“There are surely other options to overcome the daily challenges and one of which is for both to be working, cut wasteful spending, and skip too many holiday travels.
By doing this they would have more in their pockets and would not struggle to make ends meet”, said chamber chairman Datuk Wong Kii Yii.
He was referring to the proposal by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) to the government to hike the minimum wage to RM2,100 benchmark next year.
Saying a moderate bite could be easier to swallow, Wong said a drastic increase will be hard-hitting and affect many moderate and small economic sectors who are already enduring difficult times due to higher utility tariffs and fees along with tightened regulations and taxes and also just like employees affected by the rising cost of goods and services.
He said while the more established not wanting to suffer losses would likely pass the added production cost to the consumers resulting in nothing being resolved with the wage hike.
He said there would also be job cuts and cited an example of a company employing 10 clerks reducing to five.
He stressed any wage hike should not be on the basis of pleasing the employees and disappointing the employers.
He also pointed at the fact that it should not be overlooked that a diligent and productive is normally rewarded big bonuses, quick promotions, allowances and these career wins the employees enabling workers to invest in properties.
At least two employee groups have voiced disagreement with the MTUC proposal while a government committee is reviewing it.
