The Peninsular Malaysia Transport Workers Union (TWU) has welcomed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's statement that the minimum wage policy would be implemented at the end of this year.

TWU secretary-general Zainal Rampak said although the implementation would be confined to low-income workers, he was confident that one day it would embrace the nation's whole workforce.

NONE Najib at a Malaysian Trades Union Congress on Tuesday night said the minimum wage policy for low-income workers would be implemented at the year-end, after the establishment of a National Wage Consultative Council (NWCC).

In a statement yesterday, Zainal ( left ) said the NWCC should be given more authority to carry out surveys and studies on other sectors from time to time, so that one day the minimum wage would be enjoyed by all levels of workers in line with the prime minister's "People First, Performance Now" slogan.

He again called on the government to consider extending the retirement age of workers to 60 and to set up a National Employment Termination Scheme for the welfare of those who lost their jobs.

Zainal said the scheme would protect workers in the face of economic recession, when industries tended to lay off workers.

"The funds in the scheme can be utilised to pay an allowance to workers whose services have been terminated until they find a new job or the economy recovers," he suggested.

On the retirement age extension, he said the idea should be considered as Malaysians now live longer.

- Bernama