Replace Minimum Wages Order with Living Wages Act

LETTER | Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's view that low wages are better than none, sadly, is a representation of the mindset of the ultra-capitalist class! What is shocking is the fact that it was parroted by the prime minister of the "Malaysia Baru" government. Coming on the day that celebrated the sacrifices and contributions of the working people of the world it is, in our opinion, disgusting!

Let us remind the prime minister and, by extension, the Pakatan Harapan government, that this nation of ours was built on the blood, sweat and lives lost of the working class. From the early rubber plantation workers, the tin ore mine labourers, to those who built the railways, the harbours and everything and anything that now stand to glorify this nation, it was the product of the labour's sacrifices. But the sad fact remains that the workers of the nation are the most marginalised segment of the country.

The plantation workers, the fishermen, the farmers, those toiling in the manufacturing sector, etc, are all trapped in the vicious low-income equation of the nation - no thanks to the low wage policy of the regime that governed our country from independence to May 2018. And lest it slips our memory, a good 22 years were under the leadership of Mahathir, who I will refer to as Mahathir 1.0.

It is obvious that he has not shed his pro-capital inclination. Please permit me to label him "Mahathir 2.0". You do not need to be a rocket scientist to decipher his call of "low wage better than none" as a manifestation of the Pakatan Harapan's government's policy towards the workers of the nation. If that was not the case, then where are the voices of the other equal partners of the Harapan coalition?

A promise to implement a minimum wage of RM1,500 was set aside. The promise that the abolishment of the GST would bring down the cost of living has not materialised. The escalating cost of essential goods and services is a reality that only fools will dare to deny. These realities have been supported by findings from none other than Bank Negara, in that, the current minimum wage is not appropriate.

In fact, Bank Negara is of the view that the country ought to implement a "living wage"- a wage that would be adequate to meet the workers' basic needs with a bit more to spare.

Having regard to the Bank Negara's finding, MTUC Penang division demands that the existing Minimum Wages Order be replaced with a Living Wages Act, which will have the jurisdiction to enact a national living wage without the government's interference in the matter.

The writer is secretary MTUC, Penang division.

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