PARLIAMENT The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) should have discussions directly with the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) on the former’s proposal for a cost-of-living (Cola) allowance for private sector employees, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Human Resource Minister Ismail Abdul Muttalib said the government was prepared to be the intermediary if they could not come to an agreement on the matter.

He was replying to a question raised by Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) on whether the government would have discussions with the MEF to coax the latter to accept the MTUC proposal for a RM300 Cola for private sector employees.

Azalina had also wanted to know what measures the government would take to enable private sector employees to cope with the rising cost of living if the Cola proposal was shot down.

Ismail said the government had decided on a biennial review of the minimum wage and provided various forms of cash and non-cash aid.

“For example, the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) and 1Malaysia People’s Shop (KR1M) are forms of aid for people in the medium- and low-income group,” he said.

- Bernama