KOTA KINABALU: The call for the payment of a minimum wage of RM900 to be made mandatory for workers in Sabah received a positive response from an employer.
Co-owner of Delitaly Sdn Bhd, Luciano Ceresa, told The Borneo Post yesterday that the proposed figure as the minimum wage should be implemented.
Ceresa maintained that with the present cost of living, it is difficult for workers to survive on a wage lower than that.
“The cost of living in Kota Kinabalu is rising every year and it is imperative for the minimum wage call to be made effective so as to safeguard the interest of all employees in Sabah,” he said.
Ceresa who is an expatriate and runs an eatery at the city centre, said that he understands the plight of workers earning a pittance for their effort.
“The cost of rental for a basic room here could be about RM200 or more per month and they still have to eat and pay for their bills. How can one survive with a mere RM500 per month in salary?” he said.
At his eatery, the workers are paid a basic salary as well as service points.
“All are paid more than RM1,000 per month,” he said.
Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) president Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau, however, pointed out that industries in Sabah might not be ready for the implementation of the RM900 minimum wage.
Its president, Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau, said that if the call for the RM900 minimum wage were to be legislated, it might affect the running of some businesses and cause them to cease operation.
“What good would that be if businesses are to cease operation? It will cause people to lose jobs and security,” he said.
He added that it is imperative to understand that industries in Sabah are still very much behind those in Peninsular Malaysia.
“What works there might not work here,” he said.
Wong also said that the hike in salary will also jeopardize the competitiveness of industries in Sabah.
“One has to understand that the cost of paying a staff salary will also be taken into account in the manufacturing on a product. With higher wage, consumers will have to pay more for a product or service,” he said.
“It is a factor that needs to be considered to ensure industries in Sabah will be able to remain competitive,” he added.
Wong urged for a meeting to be held to discuss on the issue and for further understanding on the mechanism for the minimum salary recommendation.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sabah has called on the State Government to support and influence the Federal Government to introduce the national minimum wage of RM900 for all workers in Sabah without any delay.