‘Minimum wage should be at least RM2,000 to cover cost of living’

PETALING JAYA: The minimum wage in the country should be at least RM2,000 monthly to cover basic living expenses in the current economic climate, say economic experts and labour players.

Leading economist Dr Geoffrey Williams said based on the inflation of the minimum wage since the last increase, the new minimum wage should be around RM1,600, but this is too low because with statutory deductions for Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Social Security Organisation (Socso) and Employment Insurance System (EIS), the take-home pay is below the poverty line.