MTUC proposes COLA for private sector workers

The government has been urged to introduce a RM300 per month cost of living allowance (COLA) for all the 10 million private sector workers in view of the escalating cost of living.

Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Khalid Atan said, this was necessary as almost five million private sector workers were earning only about RM30 a day, slightly above the poverty line of RM870 a month.

At present the minimum wage for workers in peninsular Malaysia is RM900 and for those in Sabah and Sarawak it is RM800 a month.

Khalid said MTUC is also in the midst of working out strategies to help ease the workers’ burden.

In the meantime, Khalid suggested that companies should provide assistance to their workers such as subsidised food and lodging.

The MTUC was also concerned on the immediate impact of the increased transportation, food and schooling costs particularly on workers in the lower income group.