Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's largest labour union staged a rally today outside Parliament to call for the introduction of a minimum wage to help low-paid workers cope with rising living costs.

Some 150 members of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress chanted "Long live workers" as they demanded a minimum wage of $285 a month and an additional $95 as a "cost of living allowance," a benefit currently reserved for public sector workers.

"It's very important. The cost of living is hiking up," said MTUC Vice President Mustafar Maarof. "The people cannot cope."

The MTUC estimates that 40 per cent of Malaysia's nearly 10 million private-sector employees earn less than $222 a month. Most work at plantations or factories.

It said plantation workers are among the worst paid, with some earning monthly salaries of less than $126.

Last week, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi rejected calls for a minimum wage system, saying his government would need to study it amid inflationary pressure and a slowing economy.

Mustafar said the MTUC, which represents some 500,000 workers, was disappointed with the government's stance but would not give up its campaign. The protesters delivered a statement to a member of Parliament and dispersed after 90 minutes.

Complaints over the rising cost of living contributed to the ruling coalition's poor performance in March elections, when it lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Source : PTI