World · Malaysia Bureau
Government must clarify timeline for SME minimum wage exemption
A Malaysian lawmaker has called on the government to provide clear guidance on how long small and medium enterprises will be exempted from new minimum wage requirements. The Dungun MP also urged authorities to establish a transition mechanism to ensure workers receive fair salary increases.
LSN Malaysia ·
Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli, the Member of Parliament for Dungun, has pressed the government to outline the duration of the minimum wage exemption for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), citing the need for greater clarity in implementation. The call comes as businesses and workers seek concrete details on the timeline and transition framework for the new wage policy. Ramli emphasised that while exemptions may be necessary to protect smaller businesses during an adjustment period, the government must communicate precisely when such relief measures will expire. Beyond providing a clear exemption timeline, the Dungun MP stressed that authorities should develop a structured transition mechanism to guide SMEs in progressively raising employee compensation. Such a framework would allow workers to receive salary increases commensurate with their contributions while giving businesses adequate time to adapt their payroll structures. The comments reflect broader concerns among lawmakers that implementation details for the minimum wage policy require urgent clarification to ensure both business viability and worker protections are adequately addressed. The government has not yet responded to requests for a detailed implementation roadmap.