SUNGAI BULOH: The RM2,500 minimum wage for graduates should not be determined by locality to ensure fairness, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
He said graduates worked hard to gain employment and develop their skills; therefore, their achievements in employment should be recognised with fair wages, regardless of which area they are working.
“Consider doctors, for example. A doctor in Kuala Lumpur and a doctor in Terengganu both save lives. We cannot place different values on human life based on location.
“For example, suppose someone graduates with a diploma or degree and qualifies to work as a finance manager, earning RM4,000.
“How can I say that someone working in Kuala Lumpur should earn RM8,000, while someone doing the same job in Perlis or Terengganu should earn only RM2,500?
“I cannot do that. You have worked hard, studied hard, obtained your qualifications and developed your skills. These achievements should be recognised,” he told reporters yesterday after launching the “Program Madani Kita” and attending a town hall with residents in his parliamentary constituency.
On Oct 9, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced under Budget 2027 a minimum monthly starting salary of RM2,500 for graduates and semi-skilled workers, alongside an increase in the national minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000, effective June 2027.
Ramanan said the same principle of wage fairness applies to technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
“We recently visited Thailand and Singapore, where we reached an understanding to introduce internship programmes linked to employment opportunities.
“Under this initiative, we will send trainees to participating overseas institutions and also receive trainees from those countries. One of the institutions involved is Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE).
“Once they complete the training, they can be offered permanent positions with salaries corresponding to the skills they have acquired,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, Ramanan said the emphasis should be on creating quality jobs when providing employment opportunities to ensure employees have a progressive career.
“When we talk about national progress, we should not focus solely on economic figures or technological advancement. We must also consider the quality of people’s lives.
“Do they have good jobs? Do they earn sufficient incomes? Do they have opportunities to improve themselves and build a better future?” he asked.
Ramanan said the programme was part of the government’s efforts to engage directly with the public, understand their concerns and ensure they had access to information on assistance and services provided by ministries and government agencies.
He also highlighted the importance of TVET in preparing Malaysians for the workforce.
“Employer satisfaction was reported at 97.2%, and employment outcomes should be measured not only by whether graduates secured jobs but also by whether they could retain their positions and meet employers’ expectations.
“It is not enough for someone to secure employment today only to lose that job the following month. We must also consider whether employers are satisfied with the quality of graduates and whether employees can remain in their jobs,” he said.
Ramanan called on small businesses and young entrepreneurs to benefit from technological advancements.
“The government can provide the opportunities, information and support. However, the people must be willing to take the next step,” he said.
