PARLIAMENT About 600,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been given permission to postpone the minimum wage implementation until December, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Ismail Abd Mutallib.

The employers need more time to restructure operations and cut down losses before starting the minimum wage implementation, he said when responding to a supplementary question from Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) at the Dewan Rakyat today.

To the original question from Wan Hasan Mohd Ramli (PAS-Dungun), Ismail said the government would allow SMEs to have discussions with employees before restructuring their salaries and allowances.

For SMEs that hire foreign workers, he said levy payment would be paid by foreign workers themselves while employers were allowed to deduct up to RM50 from salaries for housing facilities.

He said an impact study on the minimum wage implementation was being conducted involving employers which had put the scheme into effect.

Ismail said 1,001 out of 1,239 complaints on the minimum wage implementation had been resolved through negotiation among employers, employees and government.
On another note, Ismail said the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) would be holding a workshop next month to formulate incentives to enhance SME productivity and competitiveness as well to reduce dependence on foreign workers.

- Bernama - Malaysiakini, 30/9/2013, 600,000 SMEs can defer minimum wage application