EARLIER today, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) said that many employers in the country are still reeling from the recently enacted minimum wage of RM1,500.
According to Mingguan Malaysia, its president Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman said it was due to the fact that many employers are still trying to rejuvenate their businesses following COVID-19 triggered economic downturn.
“That is why we suggested for the Government to implement the minimum wage of RM1,500 in stages to allow companies to strengthen their finances first.
“Although many businesses have reopened, many employers are unable to catch up as we are also having manpower shortage,” he was reported as saying.
However, netizens were amused by Syed Hussain’s complaints and took to social media to poke fun at the man.
(Employers will agree if workers’ wages are reduced to RM350 a month. Surely, they would not be burdened after that)
User Mohamed A Zamzuri “disagreed” with Kamarol’s view, adding:
(Not really, Kamarol Zaman II. They will continue crying being burdened by coming up with new excuses)
Netizen Richard Pau retorted:
(Show us your profit and loss statement. Only then we will know whether you really going through tough times or just talking nonsense)
On May 1, the Government raised the minimum wage threshold to RM1,500 after the measure was delayed for two years due to the pandemic.
Despite objections from several employers, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob remained firm on the matter, citing the economy was showing signs of recovery.
This was not the first time MEF courted controversy as last month, the group’s executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said that workers who chose the WFH policy should get a pay cut between 10% and 12%.
“We have to consider that some companies provide transport allowance to their employees. So, if they choose to work from home, we should consider that as a factor to reduce their pay,” he was reported saying back then, to the ire of many quarters including Union Network International-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) president Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal.
Help struggling workers
On that note, user Mohamed Zaini urged the Government to remain steadfast in helping the working class who had been oppressed by unscrupulous employers for years.
(The Government must remain firm and help workers who had been oppressed by employers for decades as the latter has been paying nonsensical wages. Employers must practise the “grow with the company” concept)
Netizen Malim Karimun jested:
(MEF, just say that you will only support the minimum wage when pigs fly. And then you will implement it) – May 8, 2022
