Youth Pulse: For fair pay


The right remuneration: Each day, thousands of Malaysians cross the border into Singapore for work. — The Star

BUDGET documents make for good reading if one has insomnia. Budget 2025 was no exception, when it arrived in my WhatsApp inbox in the form of a 138-page PDF file around mid-October.

Perhaps one of the most exciting announcements in Budget 2025 was the raising of the minimum wage from RM1,500 to RM1,700. What intrigued me most, however, was a clip that Human Resources Minister Steven Sim shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account in which he said, “When we say minimum wage, we don’t mean starting pay”.

Save 30% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 9.73/month

Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.63/month

Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Focus

Al-Sharaa’s long road to the White House
China’s quest for longer life
The killing that drew in the tourists
Chip dreams meet reality
Shrinking refugein bookstores
Tariffs fail to slow China exports
Frontline in flux
The fighter who’s walking away
The sparking of 'sprakkars'
Storm in South Africa over Gaza evacuees

Others Also Read