DAP will continue to raise the minimum wage issue in Parliament in support of MTUC's demand for workers in the private sector.

"Our MPs will bring up the matter in the august chamber whenever appropriate to do so," he told malaysiakini this evening.

He also said that DAP will support MTUC's nationwide picket on Aug 8, the second organised by the union this year to state their demand.

Lim declared the picket "justified", citing the government's purchase of 18 Sukhoi fighter jets worth US$900 Million (RM3.42 billion) as an example of the government's "misplaced financial priorities".

DAP had also supported the MTUC at their first picket on June 25.

"When the DAP brought up the minimum wage issue in Parliament recently, the government merely replied with "the same old excuses", said Lim.

Unions not consulted

He also labeled the government's proposed amendments to the Trade Unions Bill and the Industrial Relations Bill "undemocratic, disrespectful of workers and a clear preference for the interests of employers over employees".

The amendments were made without consultation with the trade unions, and will allow employers more freedom with regards to the indefinite sacking of workers.

The United Nations Human Development Report has consistently placed Malaysia as one of the countries with the largest income disparity between rich and poor in Southeast Asia over a period of several years.

This inequality was reinforced by the 9th Malaysian Plan, which revealed that in 2004 the bottom 40% of households share only 13.5% of the national income, whilst the top 20% enjoy 51.2%.

The survey reveals an increase in economic disparity, as in 1999 the bottom 40% had an income share of 14% and the top 20% possessed 50.5%.

As Lim noted, the bottom 40% of households "clearly" have earnings below that of the average national household monthly income of RM3,249.

"Such imbalances and injustice should be redressed with the minimum wage and Cola," he stated.

With Petronas earning RM76.3 billion in pre-tax profits last year, Lim called BN's economic policy of equitable wealth distribution a "failure".

Way to eradicate poverty

He compared Malaysia's lack of financial support for the significant number of Malaysians left out of the economic mainstream with the Singaporean government's provision of S$2000 to poor families.

"There is no reason why the Malaysian government cannot do the same."

DAP joins PKR as the second political party to pledge support for the MTUC's demands.

PKR secretary-general Khalid Ibrahim had earlier said that "the introduction of the minimum salary is the easiest way to eradicate poverty in this country."

MTUC, which represents 500,000 workers, is seeking a minimum wage of RM900 and RM300 cost of living allowance (Cola) for the private sector.

The union have been calling for the introduction of a minimum wage law for the past decade.