Raising the minimum wage: A tough call for the government

Stable employment: Pedestrians are seen using umbrellas during the hot weather in Kuala Lumpur. Bank Negara expects wages to increase further in 2024 following a slowdown last year, while the jobless rate will likely remain stable near its past trend.

MANY employers would balk at the idea of having to pay higher minimum wages in light of rising costs amidst a challenging operating environment.

As such, when Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the government will review the minimum salary this year, this drew much flak particularly among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).