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Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
LLRC slams Guan Eng over remarks on migrant worker wages, EPF
Lo says the comments could encourage employers to offer lower wages to foreign workers, potentially undermining the local job market. KUCHING (Aug 7): The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) has voiced concern over remarks by former finance minister Lim Guan Eng, who suggested Malaysia need not mandate minimum wage or Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for migrant workers. LLRC deputy president Andrew Lo said the comments could encourage employers to offer lower wages to foreign workers, potentially undermining the local job market. 'Such a statement is a betrayal of Malaysian workers. It seems that he (Lim) has no inkling of labour economics and continues to support employers' addiction to cheap labour and low wages,' he said in a statement today. Lo also pointed out that allowing exemptions from EPF contributions would widen wage disparities and risk suppressing local salaries further. Citing Malaysia's ratification of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 100 on equal pay, Lo argued that Lim's suggestion disregards international labour standards. Lim, who is Bagan MP, made the comments during a recent parliamentary debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan. According to MalaysiaKini, Lim argued that Malaysia is not legally obligated to enforce such measures for migrant workers already employed, and cited Singapore's policy of excluding Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions since 2003. Lo, however, dismissed the comparison, saying Singapore has no minimum wage framework, making it an inappropriate benchmark. Andrew Lo epf Lim Guan Eng migrant workers
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Kua questions DAP's stance after Guan Eng's minimum wage remark
Published on: Thursday, August 07, 2025 Published on: Thu, Aug 07, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Former Petaling Jaya MP Kua Kia Song criticised DAP's Lim Guan Eng for ignoring the fact that Malaysia is an ILO member and has worked for years to align with its standards. PETALING JAYA: Former MP and Suaram director Kua Kia Soong has questioned whether DAP's stance on social justice and equality has changed after the party's national adviser Lim Guan Eng made remarks opposing the minimum wage and EPF contributions for migrant workers. Kua said the party, which has long styled itself as 'the conscience of Malaysian politics', risks appearing like a 'hollow vessel' when it comes to defending labour rights. Advertisement He also took aim at DAP's youth wing for remaining silent on the matter. 'What is the point of maintaining a wing called 'DAP Socialist Youth' (DAPSY) if its members remain silent while the party publicly defends wage discrimination and violates international labour norms?' he asked in a statement today. 'If DAPSY cannot even take a principled stand when one of its senior leaders calls for lower wages for migrants and effectively codifies inequality into law, then it must answer a simple question: What exactly do you exist for?' While debating the 13th Malaysia Plan in Parliament this week, Lim said there was 'no need to mandate the RM1,700 minimum wage and 2% EPF contributions for migrant workers' already in the workforce. Advertisement Lim pointed to Singapore's policy of not requiring Central Provident Fund contributions for migrant workers since 2003 without repercussions from the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The former finance minister also said that Malaysia was not bound by any United Nations or ILO conventions. But Kua said this ignores the fact that Malaysia is an ILO member and has worked for years to align with its standards. 'Never mind that ILO Convention 100 mandates equal pay for equal work, or that Convention 111 prohibits discrimination based on national origin, or that Convention 143 insists on equal treatment of migrants in wages and working conditions,' he added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
