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Penang Institute is organizing a forum on Minimum Wage and as such, we cordially invite you and/or your esteemed organisation to participate in this forum.
The details are as follows:
Date : 17 November 2011, Thursday
Time : 8.30 am - 1.00 pm
Venue : PSDC, 1, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Bandar Bayan Baru, Bayan Lepas.
OPENING REMARKS:
Deputy Chief Minister II, Prof. Dr. P. Ramasamy a/l Palanisamy
CHAIRPERSON:
Prof Suresh Narayanan,
USM cum senior visiting fellow, Pg Inst.
SPEAKER:
Dr. Chan Huan Chiang
DISCUSSANTS:
1. Dato’ Ajit Singh Jessy
2. Mr. K. Veeriah, MTUC
3. Dato’ Lee Ow Kim, former Chairman, FMM Northern Branch
4. Mr. Marco Battistotti, Chairman, P-MAH
5. Dr. Lee Hwok Aun, University of Malaya.
OBJECTIVES
The forum aims to:
(1) Provide a platform for honest assessment and discussion on the most pressing and relevant questions on minimum wage;
(2) Propose strategies for minimum wage implementation for the creation of a more equitable society.
ABSTRACT
On 30 June 2011, the National Wage Consultative Council Act 2011 was passed after four hours of debate. It replaces the Wages Council Act 1947 that will assess wage levels by sectors, types and regions in preparation for a national minimum wage policy by the end of the year. A minimum wage policy is not the same as a minimum wage law and therefore not exactly what has been hoped for. The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) has lobbied for a minimum wage since 1996 arguing that purchasing power has fallen, trailing farther and farther behind current wage rates. Minimum wage is designated as an international labor standard by the International Labor Organization in the form of a “safety net” to secure workers a reasonable standard of life. More than a hundred countries have some form of minimum wage set either as one nation wide base rate or variable base rates according to sector, occupation type and regions and either set by law or through collective bargaining to achieve a better distribution between employer profits and workers’ incomes. Malaysia has been in full employment, and in Penang, there is a shortage of labour. Yet, minimum wage remain a policy conundrum.
To those who are interested to participate in this forum, RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact us at tel (604) 228 3306 by the noon of 16 November 2011 (Wednesday).
