Malaysia’s prime minister announced on Thursday that the country’s minimum wage policy will be extended to include graduates and semi-skilled workers.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim specified that this expansion will cover Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates who fall under Masco code 8 and higher.

“This effort is aimed at ensuring fair wages that reflect the qualifications and skills of our workers,” he stated whilst tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.

Anwar stated that during the 13MP, the country aims to generate 700,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector and an additional 500,000 career opportunities in the digital economy, The Star reports.

He also revealed plans to strengthen the National Wage Consultative Council and improve the e-Masco portal to make it a more transparent and responsive tool for monitoring wages.

“At the same time, the government is encouraging major companies to provide decent living wages, as already practised by government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and government-linked companies (GLCs),” he added.

According to Anwar, the Madani administration has successfully increased the minimum wage twice, first from RM1,200 to RM1,500, and then to RM1,700, using minimum wage orders, the Progressive Wage Policy, and public service salary reforms (SSPA).

He also said that for employees of government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies, the living wage benchmark has been established at RM3,100 per month.

Meanwhile, he noted that TVET graduates are also receiving increasingly competitive salaries, with the majority earning above the RM1,700 minimum wage level.

“A total of 95.6% of TVET graduates have secured employment within six months of completing their training,” he stated.

To improve the labour market further, Anwar also stated that the government will accelerate efforts to simplify wage structures, aiming to ensure that workers get a fairer portion of the country’s economic growth.