PUTRAJAYA | The tourism industry is among several sectors that will be temporarily exempted from implementing the new RM1,500 minimum wage policy, human resources minister M Saravanan said today.
He said the new policy that was scheduled to begin from May 1, would exempt informal sectors and those which suffered losses due to the economic impact from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The country’s tourism industry and hotels were severely affected by the travel restrictions and closed borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Among those exempted are farmers, hotels and tourism industry players, as well as companies with fewer than five employees,” he told reporters after launching the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) micro-credentials initiative.
He added that the exemption was made following requests from both the Cabinet and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Previously, the International Trade Union Network Council Malaysia (UNI-MLC) called for the new minimum wage to be implemented by all sectors and also cover domestic workers.
Union president Shafie BP Mammal said the RM300 increase from the previous minimum wage of RM1,200, would give some relief to people who are still struggling to make ends meet, even though it is still considerably low.
