Apr. 16 – In an effort to combat inflation and prevent any outbreaks of labor unrest, ASEAN countries have increasingly been following China’s strategy of pushing for higher minimum wage levels and enacting new labor laws which greater protect workers’ rights. Many countries also see minimum wage increases as an opportunistic method of raising the productivity of their labor force in preparation for the opening of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
Malaysia
Malaysia implemented the country’s first-ever minimum wage standards on January 1, 2013. Minimum wages are set at MYR 900 (US$296) per month in peninsular Malaysia, and MYR 800 (US$263) per month in the states of Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.
Prime Minister Naji Razak has stated that these standards will be renewed every two years, and the move has been stressed by Minister Idris Jala as part of the government’s strategy to evolve the country into a high-income nation by 2020.
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