WORKERS could lodge complaints over non-compliance with the new minimum wage order, which takes effect from June next year, says Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (pic).
Employers found to have breached the law could face legal action, he said.
Akmal Nasrullah also said workers who lose their jobs due to company restructuring following the planned minimum wage increase to RM2,000 would be eligible for Employment Insurance System (EIS) benefits, including a job-search allowance for up to six months.
Akmal Nasrullah was responding to Datuk Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday who asked how the government would prevent the minimum wage increase from causing job cuts, higher prices and additional operating costs.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), businesses with annual sales below RM50mil will be exempted from implementing the new wage so that they have time to adjust their business models and finances.
Akmal Nasrullah said the exemption was intended to help employers maintain their operations without resorting to drastic measures such as retrenchments.
The new minimum wage order will be enforced by the labour departments in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak under the National Wages Consultative Council Act.
To contain price increases, the government will step up enforcement under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act and expand initiatives to keep essential goods affordable.
For example, the government has allocated RM700mil for 30,000 Jualan Rahmah Madani and RM50mil for 5,000 Jualan Agro Madani next year to help stabilise prices and make essential goods more affordable.
