PBS supports proposed minimum wage model

KOTA KINABALU, August 12 (The Borneo Post) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has come out in full support of the proposed minimum wage model to be submitted to the Cabinet in October.

PBS secretary-general Datuk Henrynus Amin said PBS welcomed the announcement as proof that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government was listening to the sentiments of the grassroots.

He said PBS had fought for a minimum wage policy for many years and had issued statements time and again as part of its proposal to reduce the dependence on foreign labour.

Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S Subramaniam had said Tuesday that Malaysia would formulate its own minimum wage model based on the country’s economic situation and taking into account the interests of both the employers and workers, and that the model would be submitted to the Cabinet in October.

Henrynus said: “A minimum wage policy is a sensible decision since Malaysia is aiming to become a high-income economy.

Malaysia cannot be a high-income economy if local labour is getting wages below the poverty level.

“It does not make sense to talk about eradicating poverty in Sabah when local workers are paid low wages below the poverty line. A minimum wage is the essence of a high-income economy,” he said.

He also said that the negative characterisation of local workers as lazy and unproductive was nothing but lame excuses used to justify employing cheap labour.

Henrynus said Sabahans were generally hard working and obedient.