Reported by Bernama, Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar stated that a labor market intervention step should be implemented by concentrating on middle-class workers under pressure, as indicated by the Ministry of Finance in the Economic Outlook 2024.
According to the data, semi-skilled workers currently earn salary about the same as low-skilled workers, he claimed.
“Based on the Statistics and Wages Malaysia 2022 report, the median monthly wage for semi-skilled workers is RM1,817, compared with RM1,635 received by low-skilled workers,” he said, winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2024 for the Ministry of Human Resources at the policy level in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.
He claimed that out of 15.4 million workers, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) report from the previous year revealed that the largest percentage of workers semi-skilled (58%). Followed by skilled workers (30%) and low-skilled workers (12%).
Sivakumar reported that the review of the minimum salary order, which takes into account socioeconomic indicators like the poverty line income, the median salary, labor productivity, the unemployment rate, and changes in the consumer price index (which shows changes in the cost of living), is currently 70% complete.
According to him, the National Wages Consultative Council’s investigation is crucial to ensuring that the minimum wage order adjustment founded on evidence.
According to Sivakumar, the DOSM’s statistics from 2022 show that a rise in the minimum wage that year caused people’s salaried income to rise to 62.8%.
Furthermore, he stated that the Productivity-Linked Compensation System (PLWS) guarantees that compensation increases tied to improved performance or enhanced productivity. And the progressive wage policy implemented in tandem.
“As of September 2023, a total of 98,119 employers had implemented PLWS, and benefited 5.9 million workers in various job levels, including semi-skilled workers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sivakumar stated that his ministry dedicated to assisting staff members in expanding their knowledge base. The skill development based on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp).
According to him, up until 30 September, 258,862 training places permitted to conduct instruction, requiring RM124.04 million in funding.
“Apart from that, HRD Corp also offers online learning through the e-LATiH platform. As of 30 September this year, a total of 1,900 courses offered for free, involving 350,000 registrations,” he said.
Health Minister Dr. Zaliha Mustafa said the MOH and Ministry of Higher Education are working together to lift the restriction on new private nursing schools after her ministry’s discussion.
According to her, the action is part of an attempt to address the shortage of health workers. By increasing the number of human resources and local nurses at healthcare facilities.
“Nurses at MOH health facilities are mostly graduates from ILKKM (the MOH Training Institute), and absorbed directly into the MOH…we are also looking, in the future, to get human resources (nurses) from both public and private institutions of higher learning.
“Other efforts include increasing the number of MOH-sponsored nursing diploma trainees from 1,000 to 2,000 every year,” she said.
She also suggested that the MOH may allow retired nurses and other health workers to return to work.
Which is also by providing them with positions in public health institutions.
The MOH granted conditional relief to private health facilities that employed foreign-trained nurses (JTWA) without post-basic qualifications, Zaliha said. This also means that JTWAs hired for 12 months, starting on 1 October 2023 and ending on 30 September 2024. Also, it is subject to JWTA temporary practicing certificate approval, the service may be extended for 12 months.
She believes streamlining private health services and increasing capacity will improve public-private health sector cooperation.
Reported by Bernama, Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar stated that a labor market intervention step should be implemented by concentrating on middle-class workers under pressure, as indicated by the Ministry of Finance in the Economic Outlook 2024.