The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) today announced it will not hold discussions with the National Wages Consultative Council (MPGN) on the federal minimum wage law.

The group said it would instead only meet "decision makers", after a meeting on Wednesday with MPGN broke down prompting representatives from nine groups to walk out.

acccim pc on minimum wage 280213 sec gen low kian chuan This decision came after ACCCIM leaders held a four hour meeting. The group is the umbrella body for the Chinese business community.

According to ACCCIM secretary-general Low Kian Chuan ( right ), MPGN had refused to listen to the business groups and had been very defensive of the group’s proposals.

"We are prepared to meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. We will only see those who can make decisions," he told reporters yesterday.

Low said other decision makers they are willing to speak to include the Human Resources Ministry.

RM300 lump sum proposed

During the meeting, ACCCIM also provided three proposals to the federal government to fine tune the minimum wage policy.

One proposal was for a one-year deferment on the implementation of a minimum wage for foreign workers.

stranded bangladeshis klia 030305 baggages 01 It also proposed a new mechanism that puts all expenses including levies, accomodation, visas and return airfares into a RM300 lump sum, resulting in an increase in the workers’ base salaries.

With the present model, after deducting the various expenses, the actual income of foreign workers only record an increase of RM 189.20, said ACCCIM.

ACCCIM president Lim Kok Cheong hopes the government will respond within two weeks and that the matter would be resolved within a month.

"ACCCIM will send a letter to the prime minister and the ministry. We will discuss further the plan to follow if there is no response," he said.

Lim added that although cabinet had agreed to the deferment of the minimum wage upon application and approval, the problem remains and more confusion will arise because no clear guidelines have been issued to clarify the matter.