KUCHING: The decision by the federal government to raise the salaries of civil servants was to the concern of Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen.
Viewing it as drastic, the Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman foresees that it could create issues whereby the private sector is pressured to follow suit.
“I believe it sets a precedent. Employees in the private sector may compare their salaries with those in the government sector and question when their own employers will increase wages.
“This creates a concern, in my opinion,” he said when officiating at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Sarawak Aidilfitri celebration at a leading hotel here yesterday.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that civil servants will enjoy a salary hike of more than 13 per cent starting December this year which will be among the highest increase in the nation’s history.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) being revised, the government will ensure that the minimum income for civil servants exceeds RM2,000 per month.
Separately, Chong also stressed the importance of addressing disparities in employee protection whereby the State Labour Ordinance must be amended to be in line with other states.
“Sarawak employees earning RM2500 or more, specifically white-collar workers, are not protected by the Sarawak Labour Ordinance, which provides basic employee protections. In West Malaysia, the threshold is RM4,000.
“In Sarawak, if you earn around RM2,500, and your employer asks you to work overtime, you’re not entitled to overtime pay. In West Malaysia, you need to earn RM4,000 or more to lose your entitlement to overtime pay,” he said.
He further noted that Sabah has already updated its Employment Act, offering 90 days of maternity leave for female employees.
“This discrepancy affects many workers, especially graduates and engineers, who may be required to work long hours without additional compensation,” he said.
