Harapan Baharu Gaji Minimum… Kerajaan Diharap Utamakan Rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Mei – Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berharap kerajaan mengutamakan rakyat tempatan dengan memastikan mereka dapat mengisi ruang pengangguran sedia ada sekiranya benar kerajaan melaksanakan perintah gaji minimum.

Ini kerana katanya, beberapa hari yang lalu Perdana Menteri memberi harapan baharu untuk kerajaan melaksanakan kajian semula perintah gaji minimum 2020 bagi memastikan ia kekal relevan dengan sosioekonomi semasa susulan situasi hari ini yang memperlihatkan gaji sedia ada tidak mampu menampung kenaikan harga barang apatah lagi terdapat ramai golongan yang terjejas akibat pandemik Covid-19.

“Jika benar kerajaan dapat meningkatkan gaji minimum semaksima yang boleh, saya amat menyokongnya. Ia sesuatu yang baik untuk rakyat kerana mereka terbeban dengan kos sara hidup ketika ini. Namun perlu diingat peningkatan gaji minimum bakal mengundang lebih ramai pekerja dari luar yang mahu mendapatkan tawaran gaji lumayan.

“Andai itu dilaksanakan saya berharap kerajaan mengutamakan rakyat tempatan. Pastikan mereka merebut peluang ini dengan mengisi ruang pengangguran sedia ada. Lagipun baru-baru ini ada seorang Menteri menyatakan ekonomi Malaysia dalam keadaan stabil. Banyak pelaburan langsung asing (FDI) berjaya dibawa masuk. Maka ia adalah masa bersesuaian untuk meningkatkan pendapatan rakyat,” katanya dalam hantaran di facebooknya berkaitan isu ini.

Jelas Ahmad Zahid yang juga Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN), berdasarkan gaji minimum yang dilaksanakan ketika ini, bayaran RM1,200 dibuat di 57 majlis bandar raya dan majlis perbandaran di seluruh negara. Bagi kawasan selain wilayah bandar utama, kadar gaji minimum kekal pada bayaran RM1,100.

“Menetapkan gaji minimum pada kadar semaksimum mungkin bukan mudah kerana terdapat banyak halangan daripada pihak swasta. Majikan swasta terutama pengilang enggan memberikan gaji minimum kerana mereka boleh mendapatkan pekerja asing dengan mudah dan murah. Mereka juga mengugut memindahkan pelaburan ke luar negara dengan situasi ini seringkali berlaku di negara-negara yang sedang membangun.

“Pernah ada sebuah gabungan parti politik memberi tawaran untuk meningkatkan gaji minimum sehingga RM1,500. Janji-janji itu dijadikan modal untuk menewaskan Barisan Nasional (BN) pada PRU-14. Tetapi apabila memerintah, janji hanya tinggal janji. Ramai yang belum lupa dengan janji itu, dan ramai juga yang termakan dengan janji tersebut.

“Sekitar tahun 1980-an seorang menteri turut melaungkan insentif buruh murah untuk menarik kehadiran pelabur seperti Motorola, Robert Bosch, Western Digital dan National Semiconductor. Pada masa itu kesatuan sekerja tidak dibenarkan untuk ditubuhkan. Jika dibenarkan, saya percaya kesatuan itu akan mengadakan demonstrasi di Parlimen.”

Apa-apa pun katanya, dalam kesibukan membincangkan gaji minimum kita lupa gaji Menteri.

“Rekod memperlihatkan gaji Timbalan Menteri dan Menteri adalah sekitar RM30,000 hingga RM60,000 sebulan. Sewaktu Ordinan Darurat dilaksanakan ada kalanya kita tidak dapat melihat Menteri dan Timbalan Menteri berkenaan. Al maklumlah Parlimen tidak bersidang. Mereka semua sibuk turun padang berjumpa rakyat dan bukan bercuti,” katanya. – UMNO Online

Minimum wage: Consider the locals first

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 – UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes the government will give priority to locals by ensuring that they fill up job vacancies available in the market once the minimum wage policy is implemented.
A few days ago, he said the Prime Minister gave new hopes that the government will review the 2020 minimum wage to ensure it remains relevant to the socio-economy of the people, following presence situation which shows the current wage cannot cope with the increase in prices of goods which are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“If it is true that the government can increase the minimum wage, I strongly support it. It is a good thing for the people because they are burdened with high cost of living at this time. But keep in mind that the increase might invite more foreign workers hunting for lucrative salary offer.
“If that is implemented, I hope the government gives priority to the locals. Make sure they seize this opportunity by filling the existing jobs. After all, a Minister had recently stated that the Malaysian economy is in a stable state. Many foreign direct investment (FDI) was successfully brought in. So it is the right time to increase the people’s income,” he said in a Facebook posting
Ahmad Zahid who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, explained that based on the minimum wage currently implemented, a salary of RM1,200 was implemented in 57 city councils and municipalities throughout the country. For areas other than major urban regions, the minimum wage rate remains at RM1,100.
“Setting the minimum wage may not be easy because there are many obstacles, notably from the private sector. Private employers especially manufacturers are reluctant to provide a minimum wage because they can get foreign workers easily and cheaply. They also threaten to move investment abroad.
“I remember that a coalition party once promised to increase the minimum wage to RM1,500. It  was used as a propaganda to defeat Barisan Nasional (BN) in GE-14. But when they ruled, it was just an empty promise. Many have not forgotten it, not few fell for it.
“Around the 1980s, a minister also promised cheap labor incentives to attract investors such as Motorola, Robert Bosch, Western Digital and National Semiconductor. At that time trade unions were not allowed to function because if allowed, I believe the union will hold a demonstration in Parliament. ”
However, he said don’t forget the ministers’ salary when discussing the minimum wage issue.
“Records show that the salaries of Deputy Ministers and Ministers are around RM30,000 to RM60,000 a month. When the Emergency Ordinance is implemented, there were times we found it difficult to see them. Please understand that Parliament is not sitting. They still can find time going around meeting the people.”
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