Its president, Adnan Mat, said the proposal to increase it by RM600 was put forward three years ago.

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the change in government, it had not received the attention it deserved, he added.

“We appeal to the government to take another look at the minimum wage proposal because the present scheme is obsolete.

“We are hoping the new government will look into our proposal as it is overdue,” Bernama reported him as saying at the 29th Cuepacs triennial congress convention in Shah Alam today.

Adnan later confirmed with FMT that the minimum wage was lower than the one set for the private sector although, together with the allowances, the amount goes up to RM1,900.

“But it’s unacceptable that the minimum wage for the government sector is RM1,200 when it has been set at RM1,500 for the private sector. This has to be revised,” he said.

Meanwhile, human resources minister V Sivakumar said amendments to the Employment Act 1955 regarding flexible working arrangements were among the matters that will be implemented soon.

He said the amendments had also been included in several other plans. The ministry is now collecting feedback from all related agencies to understand the roles and functions of every department better.

“I am also looking at all existing policies. (The decision on) whether I will implement (the amendments) will be made after I get input. I will probably need about a week more to gather all the information,” he told reporters after the convention.