by NURUL SUHAIDI / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

“RAIN or shine, in May, the minimum wage will be implemented,” says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan.

Despite the call to alter the implementation, Saravanan said businesses’ demand for foreign workers is increasing, indicating a steady financial situation among them.

Several business groups have raised concerns that the minimum wage implementation, slated for next month, will add more financial constraints to the recovery process that was battered by Covid-19.

“As for the gradual implementation, we can consider some sectors only. Regardless, if it’s rain or shine, in May, the minimum wage will be implemented,” Saravanan told reporters after the signing ceremony of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between MyQaseh Sdn Bhd and the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Read more: RM1,500 minimum wage from May 1, GE15 to be discussed: PM

“I support the minimum wage implementation and that is among one of my very own pledges to support better living conditions for the people,” he said.

“For companies that are still financially struggling, especially the informal sector, we can consider being slightly lenient. For example, those who work for three or four hours a day or have employees less than five-person,” he said to the media.

“However, this does mean the businesses can take advantage of this, and as we have seen, many tend to do so, adding more suffering to the employees,” Saravanan added.

Read more: SMEs seek delay on minimum wage hike

Meanwhile, MyQaseh and Socso have entered into a strategic partnership to provide job placement for homeless people in the country.

The programme is also known as “zero homelessness” initiative is implemented to support the homeless group for job placement, allowing them to return to work through upskilling and reskilling and a job placement programme under Socso.

MyQaseh director Zainal Baharuddin said this initiative includes recognising the homeless, interviewing them to know whether they want a second chance, followed by medical examination, providing them with temporary housing, training and matching their skills with existing jobs.

“This collaboration is our pledge toward zero homeless, elevating the people of our country to rise again. It is a shared responsibility that should be done to help people in need,” he added during the signing ceremony at Wisma Perkeso.

Currently, there are 400,000 job opportunities, and to achieve this goal, some will be offered to the homeless.

Read more: More calls for review, delay of minimum wage implementation

He added that homelessness is a critical global issue and it has affected the social and economic status of the country.

Meanwhile, Saravanan said many of the homelessness cases stem from fraud employment schemes which led employees to end up being homeless.

“I believe this initiative will assist this undervalued group with job opportunities, bringing back light into their life. The programme will equip the homeless who are struggling to be selfreliant,” he said.

“I also see this is a good approach for the country toward the development of IR4.0 industry in which we can reskill and upskill them and provide them job opportunities.”

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He added that more incentives will be given this year which will focus to aid a concentrated group such as individuals who lost their jobs, the unemployed and other vulnerable groups.

MyQaseh, through its role, will support the homeless by providing training and become the intermediary between the employers and the homeless (job seekers).

Saravanan also added that the existing aid such as temporary house placement and basic needs distribution is inadequate to leverage them further and that will make them continue to be neglected.

“As of now, 100 homeless have joined the programme,” he noted.