The minimum wage model that Malaysia is to implement will be across the board for all sectors, but it may vary regionally, said Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam.

NONE "We definitely want to go ahead with the minimum wage model. We will revise low wages that have been stagnant for years, but at the same time ensure that the implementation will not affect the industry negatively," he told Bernama on the sidelines the fifth Apec Human Resource Development Ministerial Conference, in Beijing. The two-day conference ended yesterday.

Subramaniam said the model, which would be submitted to the cabinet next month, would take into account factors in the national and regional employment sectors.

"It's no point raising salaries and resulting in the cutting down of jobs," he said.

Differences in cost of living

Although there are proposals to have minimum wages for different sectors, it is difficult to implement them, he said.

"However, we will consider having a regional minimum wage model according to the cost of living of different regions ... minimum wages for Shah Alam may be different from that of Kedah or Perlis," he said.

He also said 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.

Data collection for the minimum wage model had been done and he would meet representatives of each of the sectors soon to discuss the model before tabling it to the cabinet, he said.

- Bernama