SHAH ALAM, Aug 12 — Up to 27.3 per cent of Selangor government-linked subsidiaries and entities are ready to implement a minimum fair wage of RM3,100, said state executive councillor for human resources and poverty eradication Papparaidu Veraman.
He told the Selangor State Legislative Assembly here today that 59.1 per cent of state-linked entities are not yet ready, while the remaining 13.6 per cent are prepared to assess the feasibility of a phased implementation or are subject to further approval.
“The state government will continue to comprehensively study the execution of this initiative, taking into account workers’ welfare, organisational capacity, and the financial sustainability of the subsidiaries,” he said during the question-and-answer session.
Papparaidu however did not say which state-linked companies are prepared to provide a minimum RM3,100 wage, nor did he mention an implementation date.
He added the state government is committed to ensuring workers receive fair, competitive wages as living costs rise.
He explained that Selangor aligns its minimum wage policy with the federal government requirement of RM1,700 a month, while also using national frameworks such as the Progressive Wage Policy and the RM3,100 fair wage benchmark for government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and government-linked companies (GLCs).
Responding to a supplementary question from Hulu Kelang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali on the economic growth-workers’ income disparity, Papparaidu acknowledged that Selangor’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by about 6 per cent annually between 2022 and 2024, while the people’s incomes increased by only 3.7 per cent a year.
“I believe this is something that needs to be looked into not only by the government, but by all quarters including companies and other stakeholders, to help … workers so they live comfortably with dignified incomes,” he said.
Papparaidu added that the state government would look into a policy to improve Selangor workers’ welfare and earnings.
