The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has proposed setting the new minimum wage at RM3,100 a month, saying the figure should reflect the rising cost of living faced by workers.
MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor said the proposed rate should take into account increasing expenses for essential needs such as food, housing, transportation and other daily necessities.
He also called for the wage structure to be widened to include middle-income workers, with salary increases taking into account their skills, educational qualifications and years of experience.
“This would help address skills mismatch, enable companies to attract quality talent and support productivity as well as wage growth,” he said in a statement today.
Kamarul Baharin welcomed Human Resources Minister Datuk R. Ramanan’s announcement that the government is reviewing the current minimum wage, describing it as a positive development for workers.
Under the National Wages Consultative Act, the minimum wage is required to be reviewed every two years. With around five months remaining before the current review period ends, Kamarul Baharin said the new rate should be announced without unnecessary delay.
The previous minimum wage increase was implemented in February 2025, meaning the next revised rate is expected to come into effect in February 2027, he said.
He warned that any delay could further increase financial pressure on workers as the cost of goods and essential expenses continues to rise.
Kamarul Baharin also highlighted concerns over workers who remain on the current RM1,700 minimum wage despite having as much as 10 years of service, which he attributed to the lack of a proper wage progression structure.
He said MTUC was ready to engage with the government through the National Wages Consultative Council and contribute its views during discussions on the new minimum wage.
Last Tuesday, Ramanan said the government was reviewing the RM1,700 minimum wage to determine whether the existing rate should be maintained or increased.
