SHAH ALAM - PKR MP Hassan Karim says it is time to demand for living wages for workers as the nation celebrates Labour Day tomorrow.
The Pasir Gudang MP said a living wage is a salary is far above the poverty line.
"With a living wage, workers will have money to buy nutritious food for their children and spouse at home.
"Workers are also able to provide the best school education for their children," he said in his Facebook posting.
Furthermore, he said a living wage guarantee workers have a home for their family members to protect them from rain and heat and avoid forced evictions as experienced by workers who live in squatter areas.
"A living wage can also provide protection for workers and their family members when they are sick or facing health problems," he added.
Minimum wage is the required wage to be paid according to law while living wage is the wage that is able to incur cost of the current living standard.
In Malaysia the minumum wages is RM1,500.
Bank Negara had stated that the living wage for an adult based in Kuala Lumpur was RM2,700 as of 2018.
Hassan also touched on the wide rich-poor gap between workers and employers who own factories and large corporate companies.
"This is not only happening in Pasir Gudang but throughout Malaysia.
This is a big challenge for the current government and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to provide justice to all workers in Malaysia," he added.