Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam said his ministry is capable of enforcing the Minimum Wage Order which will be gazetted on July 1.

In a Parliamentary written reply to Klang MP Charles Santiago, who asked for the methods to successfully implement the minimum wage policy, Subramaniam said that success would depend on ensuring compliance towards the Minimum Wage Order 2012.

NONE Subramaniam ( right ) said the Human Resources Ministry (KSM) has given briefings on how to implement the minimum wage to officers in the labour departments of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

“In order to increase awareness and understanding of the minimum wage implementation, we have also organised dialogue sessions with various important parties across the country.

“Furthermore, KSM is spreading information about minimum wage policy through the electronic and print media,” he added.

Subramaniam said KSM has sufficient officers to monitor and enforce the Minimum Wage Order, although they would consult the Public Services Department if there was a need for more manpower.

“The officers under the labour department across Malaysia are authorised to enforce the Minimum Wage Order as stipulated in Section 4 of the National Wage Consultation Council,” said Subramaniam.

In May, the government set the minimum wage for workers in Peninsular Malaysia at RM900 a month, while for Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan, the minimum wage is RM800 per month.

The Minimum Wage Order will come into force six months after the law is gazetted, although small businesses will have an additional six months to comply.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has been criticised over the minimum wage figure, with some parties such as the Malaysian Trade Union Congress insisting that the amount was insufficient.