KUCHING: Effective Aug 1 this year, a full-time security guard in Sarawak is eligible for a monthly salary of RM600, which comprises a minimum basic salary of RM500 and a RM100 security incentive allowance.
The Sarawak Labour Department said the implementation of the minimum wage for security guards in Sarawak was made following the gazetting of the pertinent legislation under the Wages Council Act 1947.
The Wages Council (Wages Regulation Order)(Statutory Minimum Remuneration of Private Security Guards in Sarawak and Sabah) Order 2011 was gazetted on July 28 this year and enforced in Sarawak from Aug 1, it said in a statement.
It said the minimum wage regulation applied to only a full-time security guard in Sarawak hired by private agencies as stipulated under Section 3 of the Private Agencies Act 1971.
It also said that in addition to the minimum wage, the guards shall be paid other benefits as provided for under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance.
“Employers are advised to comply with the Wages Regulation Order, and failure to do so is an offence under the Wages Councils Act 1947,” it said.
The department said employers were encouraged to come up with a better salary package for security guards in Sarawak to ensure a win-win situation for both parties.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak secretary Andrew Lo said the RM600 minimum wage was still low and should be revised to at least RM900.
“The poverty line income for Sarawak is RM830 per month, which means the RM600 per month is still not enough for them (security guards) for their daily expenses. It means they have to work extra hours to earn extra income,” he told Bernama.
He said he was worried that it may affect their work productivity as well as their alertness when on duty if forced to work extra hours. — Bernama