Minimum wage order applies to PAS pre-school teachers too: Minister

PARLIAMENT | The RM1,700 minimum wage order also applies to teachers under the PAS-run Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (Pasti), Human Resources Minister Steven Sim (Harapan-Bukit Mertajam) confirmed.

The minister cautioned that if violations of the order are detected, employers can be reported to the Labour Department for investigations to be initiated. 

“Under the Minimum Wage Order, compliance with the minimum wage also applies to Pasti teachers, just like other private sector employees.

“Therefore, if there are any violations of the 2024 order, I recommend that the matter be reported to the Labour Department for investigations,” Sim said during his winding-up speech on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat today. 

Previously, PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN-Alor Setar) told the lower house that Pasti teachers are given a “volunteer allowance” instead of fixed salaries. 

In his debate on the 13MP, the opposition MP claimed that Pasti had informed teachers who wished to serve voluntarily about the constraints in paying high wages due to low student fees. 

He also asserted that the volunteer teachers at Pasti are not serving with expectations of remuneration.

RM600 allowance for ‘volunteers’

PKR lawmaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Harapan-Setiawangsa) had earlier raised concerns about Pasti teachers, who are classified as “volunteers” and paid less than half the national minimum wage.  

The former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister noted that while many Malaysians send their children to Pasti kindergartens due to their affordable fees, the institutions’ nearly 10,000 teachers receive only a RM600 allowance and are denied basic social protections. 

He added that as of last year, there were 2,497 Pasti nationwide, with 9,539 teachers and 125,065 students - managed by a unit formed under PAS Youth.

The issue of Pasti teachers’ wages is not new. In March last year, authorities reportedly turned their attention to the PAS network of kindergartens and schools over wage disputes allegedly involving its teachers.

According to a memo from the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Department, all its branch offices were instructed to inspect Pasti, as well as Sekolah Rendah Teras Islam and Sekolah Menengah Integrasi Teras Islam, which are also PAS-linked educational institutions.

The move was said to be part of the authorities’ measures to determine the employment status of teachers and staff in educational institutions under PAS, especially its youth wing.

Reporting by Shakira Buang, Zarrah Morden, Hariz Mohd

Nik Nazmi: Act against Pasti over low teacher pay, lack of protections

Apologise for 'no migrant minimum wage' call, group tells Guan Eng

Ex-DAP MP pans Guan Eng over 'unbecoming' no minimum wage idea

Guan Eng: No need minimum wage, EPF for existing migrant workers

RM1.7k minimum wage to be fully enforced on Aug 1