Page 76 - PH Manifesto English

Promise 34: Enhance the income of the majority

There is rising income inequality both in the public sector and the

private sector. The number of people who can save is low. Bank Negara

Malaysia reports (2015) that three out of every four Malaysians cannot

afford even RM1,000 in case of emergency, and only 6 percent can survive

for more than six months if they lose their source of income. The failure of

UMNO and the Barisan Nasional to help ordinary people is very

real. Pakatan Harapan will defend the fate of all Malaysians, irrespective of

their race, religion and creed, especially those who need our help. Pakatan

Harapan’s key strategy is to boost economic development to create more job

opportunities, while at the same time provide a social security network for

the lower income group. No one will be left behind.

In order to put end to the persistent discrimination against Sabah and

Sarawak, the Pakatan Harapan Government will raise the minimum wage

there to be equal to that of the Peninsular. Minimum wage will be raised to

RM1,500 per month nationwide in the first term of the Pakatan Harapan

Government, and we will review this rate every 2 years. To reduce the

burden on employers, the Pakatan Harapan Government will share 50

percent of the due to the raise in minimum wage. This means that when the

minimum wage is raised from RM1,000 to RM1,500, the Pakatan Harapan

Government will share the cost difference of RM500 with the employer

equally. The increase in foreign workers is one of the factors that has kept

the wages of local labour low. It is evident UMNO and Barisan Nasional

have failed miserably to control the number of foreign workers in the

country.

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