MTUC calls for strict enforcement of new retirement age, minimum wage

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) on Sunday called on the Labour Department to strictly enforce the new retirement age of 60 for private sector employees that came into force on July 1 last year.

Its deputy secretary-general, A. Balasubramaniam, said the congress had received complaints that many companies were not complying with the new regulation.

"We have been informed that errant companies were still using the old 55-year retirement age clause in the contracts for new employees," he told Bernama.

Balasubramaniam said the Labour Department could invoke Section 65 of the Employment Ordinance 1955 to inspect these companies.

On the minimum wage issue, Balasubramaniam said this too was not fully implemented, as thousands of workers were still not being paid the minimum wage of RM900 per month for peninsular Malaysia and RM800 for Sabah and Sarawak.

He reiterated the MTUC's offer to allow its officers in the regional offices to assist the Labour Department to ensure that the policy was fully implemented. - Bernama