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PETALING JAYA: Workers can earn higher salaries through upskilling under a Progressive Wage Model (PWM), but their productivity growth should be higher than the increase in wages, says the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).

Commenting on the PWM which the government is proposing, MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said workers who acquire certified skills and improve their job performance and productivity will be eligible for higher wages.

“It also ensures that employers improve productivity and profits while consumers get better products and services at affordable prices,” he said.

Syed Hussain said a PWM must prioritise productivity growth over salary hikes to ensure that Malaysia remains competitive.

"A study on productivity and wage growth during the period of 2011 to 2019 indicated that wages grew at an average of 1.7% yearly higher than productivity.

“Such a situation eroded the competitiveness of employers and the nation," he said.

On Aug 8, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the PWM, which will be voluntary in nature, is an initiative to reform Malaysia’s labour market.

He had said that the PWM aims to ensure that workers will not be burdened with the cost of living and will benefit from employment that comes with decent wages.

Syed Hussain said that under PWM, employees will need to undergo certified upskilling training to improve performance, skills and experience.

He said the MEF hopes that the cost of upskilling can be borne by the government.

Syed Hussain said employers will be inclined to adopt the PWM, which will help narrow the gap of wages between the lowest category and median wages, as well as address the rising cost of living.

According to the Statistics Department’s Quarterly Employees Wages Statistics (Formal Sector) Report, 75.7% of the 6.45 million formal employees in Malaysia earned less than RM5,000, with more than a quarter or 34.8% receiving less than RM2,000.

Source : https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/08/24/interactive-will-malaysian-salaries-rise-under-a-progressive-wage-model