Take care of informal workers too, says Malaysian MP

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ANN/THE STAR – While the salary hike for civil servants is something that should be applauded, informal workers should also be taken care of, said Malaysian lawmaker Hassan Abdul Karim on Saturday.
 
The Pasir Gudang MP added that the government’s move to raise the salaries of public workers, especially those in the low-paid category, was a good and right move.
 

“This will help create a middle class that will grow in Malaysia. However, the government should not overlook the existence of another class of Malaysian workers.

“They are not civil servants but work in government buildings such as schools, hospitals and clinics as cleaners, security guards, and gardeners on contracts with low wages,” he said.

PHOTO: ENVATO
Hassan then said that there are a large number of informal workers in the country, adding that they have needed government intervention in their defence when they were oppressed by employers.
 

“The low salary scale, long working hours, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso) contributions are sometimes non-existent. They are denied the minimum wage and have no job security,” he said.

Hassan added that he was hopeful the government – especially the Human Resources Ministry – would help solve the issues faced by many of these informal workers.

 

On Friday, salaries in the civil service were raised by between seven per cent and 15 per cent and this is the first pay hike in 12 years.

However, this comes with conditions to bring about major reforms in Putrajaya.

The Prime Minister said the increment will be implemented in two phases, the first in December this year and the second in January 2026.

 

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