The president of Cuepacs, Azih Muda, said the minimum salary received by the group was insufficient to accommodate the rising cost of living.

“With RM1,200 a month, members of lowest group can hardly meet household needs,” he said.

“The lowest group who joined the civil service with Penilaian Menengah Rendah qualification should acquire recognised technical skills so that they can move up to a higher salary grade,” he said yesterday after opening a civil service seminar organised by Cuepacs in conjunction with Labour Day.

Cuepacs is the labour federation of government workers, comprising unions for those in the civil service and public services.

Azih said there were about 300,000 civil servants in the lowest grade throughout the country comprising of general assistants, operation assistants and drivers.

In March, the Chief Secretary to the Government, Ali Hamsa, said the government would raise the salary of 1.4 million civil servants by one increment, including those with minimum salary of RM1,200 per month, from July 1.

— BERNAMA