03/02/2025

MONDAY | FEB 3, 2025

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‘Have stronger enforcement to bridge gender salary gap’

implementation of the new Minimum Wage Order on Saturday is seen as a significant step to ease the burden of workers in the country and improve their living standards. Customer service employee at a courier company, Nur Fatihah Sophian, 27, said the minimum wage increase to RM1,700 per month provides much-needed relief, especially for workers in the federal capital, as they cope with rising living costs. “Previously, my salary was barely Call for proactive steps to curb student dropouts KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Peninsular Malay Students must take proactive steps to address the issue of student dropouts in the country, said the prime minister’s political secretary Datuk Azman Abidin. He said one effective approach would be conducting door-to-door visits with community leaders to identify students at risk of dropping out. “There are many dropouts not only in the Federal Territory but also nationwide. These students do not miss school solely because of poverty. They are also affected by social problems, parental issues and family circumstances. “We hope the federation can ensure all students complete their education up to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level, as some drop out as early as Form 1 or Form 3,”he said after officiating at a“Tahlil and Doa Selamat”ceremony held here on Saturday to mark the 11th anniversary of the national federation alumni. Azman added that the federation could assist underprivileged families by working with the Education Ministry and school teachers to ensure that necessary aid is provided to prevent students from dropping out before their SPM exams. Meanwhile, the national federation alumni president Datuk Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad said addressing education dropout rates is a key focus of their efforts, including raising student awareness about technical and vocational education and training opportunities. – Bernama Upgrade road before Ramadan, KL City Hall told KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall has been instructed to complete the Jalan Melayu upgrade work before Ramadan, which begins in early March. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said in a Facebook post yesterday she had personally reviewed the progress of the project following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit. On Jan 10, Anwar had reportedly asked KL City Hall to inspect the dilapidated business areas around Jalan Masjid India, which are in need of improvement. Following this, KL City Hall said upon completion of the upgrade, the hawker stall areas surrounding Jalan Melayu and Jalan Masjid India will be revamped with a cleaner, more attractive and orderly design. – Bernama

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

company since most of our employees already earn above the minimum wage.,” he said. The Human Resources Ministry announced that the order sets a minimum wage of RM1,700 per month for employers with at least five staff, and those engaged in professional activities, regardless of the number of workers employed. The initiative is expected to benefit 4.37 million workers, in line with the Madani Economy agenda, which prioritises social justice and the well-being of the people. Professor of Human Resource and Industrial Relations Prof Dr Balakrishnan Parasuraman said despite women being top scorers in universities, societal biases, workplace stereotypes and systemic injustices often prevent their achievements from translating into equal pay or workplace opportunities. “Salaries should be determined by the value of their work, skills and experience rather than gender or educational accomplishments. “Historically, women have encountered systemic barriers that hinder their career advancement and access to well-paid positions within organisations.” Balakrishnan said the wage gap also has the potential to adversely affect employee morale and retention, particularly among women, by creating feelings of undervaluation and inequality. He said women employees may feel frustrated and demotivated when they encounter pay disparities despite having similar qualifications of male colleagues. Over time, their frustration may drive them to seek opportunities elsewhere, he added. “A lack or absence of robust policy support regarding workplace gender equality could worsen wage disparities. “For instance, inadequate parental leave policies, limited access to affordable childcare and lack of flexible work arrangements adversely affect women, restricting their career growth and earning potential. “Concerns regarding potential career interruptions due to family commitments, such as maternity leave, strengthen the misconception that women are less serious about their careers.” He said men are more likely to be assertive in salary negotiations, compared with women, who usually refrain from doing so due to societal standards and the fear of backlash. “Assumptions that men are the primary earners or better suited for high-stakes positions also influence evaluations and salary offers. This highlights the need for standardised, transparent hiring and evaluation processes to ensure fairness and equity,” he said.

o Lack of specific regulations mandating equal pay leads to wage disparities going unnoticed and unaddressed in various sectors, says women’s group

PETALING JAYA: The Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) has called for greater salary transparency and stronger enforcement of gender-equitable compensation practices to address the wage gap between men and women in Malaysia, which exists despite women being the top scorers in universities. Its acting executive director Nazreen Nizam was commenting on Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri’s statement that the Graduate Statistics 2023 report, released by the Statistics Department, revealed that female graduates earn an average of RM900 less than their male counterparts, despite having comparable academic qualifications. Nazreen said the lack of specific regulations mandating equal pay for work of equal value across genders in Malaysia has caused wage disparities to go unnoticed and unaddressed in various sectors.

disparities contribute to broader income inequality, worsening social stratification and economic instability. She said the wage gap perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits educational opportunities for future generations, particularly in families headed by single mothers or households in which women are the primary earners. “Women’s reduced earning capacity makes them more vulnerable during economic downturns and personal crises, such as divorce or the death of a spouse. With fewer financial resources, women have less flexibility to leave unsatisfactory relationships and have more difficulty recovering from financial setbacks,” she said. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan

“There specific legislations that mandate equal pay for work of equal value. “To achieve pay equity, Malaysia must implement laws to prevent wage discrimination and enforce remedies and penalties for violations.” She said despite increasing numbers of women entering the workforce, there are still significantly fewer of them in senior roles, which are typically associated with higher pay. “Underrepresentation of women in leadership positions further compounds the wage gap, while cultural norms and workplace policies that fail to support equal career advancement opportunities for women also contribute to the imbalance.” Nazreen said persistent wage are no

Nazreen said the wage gap limits educational opportunities for future generations, particularly in families headed by single mothers or households in which women are the primary earners. – BERNAMAPIC

Workers give thumbs up for new minimum wage of RM1,700 KUALA LUMPUR: The

compliance with the order. Our employees’ welfare remains a priority,” she said. Entrepreneur Mohd Fahmy Ishak, 37, described the implementation as a proactive government step in increasing the purchasing power of workers, eradicating poverty and improving quality of life. Mohd Fahmy, who has been running a tuition centre for over 11 years, said most of his employees earn wages above the minimum threshold. “There is no major impact on my

should align with factors such as education levels and productivity,” she said. Business manager at a cybersecurity company, Shamin Merrissa, 33, said the minimum wage increase was necessary and should be reviewed progressively to remain relevant. “It’s time for the Malaysian workforce, particularly newcomers to the job market, to receive salaries that match the cost of living. “We fully support this implementation and will ensure full

enough to cover rent and transport expenses and at times, I couldn’t afford to support my parents financially. This increase helps ease those burdens,” she told Bernama. Corporate communications executive at a plantation firm, Siti Khadijah Amir Hamzah, 26, expressed gratitude for the revised minimum wage and described it as a good start for workers in 2025. “Perhaps in the future, the minimum wage could be raised further, given Kuala Lumpur’s high cost of living. However, any increase