Sarawak is not at all surprised that the government has deferred (without any specific time frame) the implementation of the minimum wage for security guards. This decision is another example of how the government has never considered the plight of private sector workers.

We would like to remind readers of what the government said when it talked about minimum wage for certain sectors:

‘The government will review the minimum wage implementation mechanism for the private sector to minimise the dependence on foreign workers.

‘Human Resources Minister Datuk S Subramaniam said the move was in line with the government’s objective to achieve a high-income economic model which would enable workers to earn a reasonable amount of salary and help them overcome poverty.’

Subramaniam was reported to have said that the minimum salary for workers in the security service sector was now between RM300 and RM400 a month.

The increase would benefit more than 150,000 security guards who are expected to take home between RM1,000 and RM1,450 per month, including overtime pay and allowances.

The wage increase was done after a tripartite wage council that included industry employers – meaning the industry knew years ago so what additional time do they need?

It is hard to believe the claim by the Security Services Association of Malaysia that 300 bumiputera firms will wind up just because of this. If this is actually the case, we can forget about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s plan for a high-income nation.

The writer is secretary, Sarawak Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MUTC).