No plans to compel private companies to give COLA - Ismail

The government has no plans to compel private companies to give cost of living allowance (Cola) to their employees, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Ismail Abd Muttalib said the ministry encourages constructive talks between the employers and the employees.

"Employees too contribute to the success of companies. However, we leave it to the employers to decide the matter.

"Private sector employees get various allowances including attendance allowance, meal allowance, transport allowance, shift allowance and single parent allowance."

Ismail was replying to a question from Normala Abdul Samad (BN-Pasir Gudang) who asked whether the ministry plans to compel private companies to give Cola to local employees.

The ministry was enforcing the National Wage Consultative Council Act 2011 on the minimum wage of RM900 monthly in peninsular and RM800 monthly in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

On another note, he said the government did not marginalise the low income group in Budget 2015 and continues to help them.

"Programmes being undertaken by the government include the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), RM250 book voucher, RM100 schooling aid and the special aid to rubber smallholders," he added.