Lim Guan Eng’s argument in Parliament today during the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) debate—calling for a differentiated minimum wage between local and foreign workers—is not just discriminatory but a blatant endorsement of modern-day exploitation. His proposal to underpay migrant workers for doing the same 3D (dirty, dangerous, difficult) jobs that Malaysians avoid exposes his true agenda.
Guan Eng appears more interested in scoring points with his towkay friends, failing to realise that setting a lower wage for foreigners will only encourage employers to hire more migrant workers over locals, simply because it is cheaper.
If Guan Eng is genuinely concerned about Malaysian workers, he should urge employers to pay Malaysians higher wages—without touching the minimum wage floor. Why push wages lower instead of advocating for better pay?
Now, Guan Eng is even calling for Malaysia to abandon the International Labour Organization (ILO). Let us remind him of the following conventions:
- ILO Convention No. 100 (1951): Mandates “equal pay for work of equal value,” regardless of nationality.
- ILO Convention No. 111 (1958): Prohibits discrimination based on “national extraction,” explicitly covering foreign workers.
- ILO Convention No. 143 (1975): Requires equal treatment for migrant workers in terms of wages and working conditions.
Yet Guan Eng casually dismisses these international standards, arguing that “we are not bound by UN and ILO conventions.” This hypocrisy is staggering—especially after years of government efforts to align with these very conventions. It appears DAP is increasingly looking up to Singapore’s PAP, even adopting its lower human and labour rights standards.
PSM has long condemned the discriminatory 2% EPF contribution for foreign workers (compared to 11–13% for locals). Now, Guan Eng wants to remove even this meagre 2%, further entrenching inequality.
Lim Guan Eng has been consistent in his discriminatory approach. As Penang Chief Minister in 2013, he called for the delay of minimum wage implementation for migrant workers—proving his longstanding disregard for labour rights.
Former BNM Governor Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim recently highlighted that real wages have declined threefold over the past 40 years. Guan Eng’s proposal would worsen this trend by creating legislative loopholes for cheaper migrant labour, incentivising employers to hire foreigners over locals. This not only deepens unemployment but undermines decades of progress in labour rights—reducing Malaysia to a low-wage economy.
In summary, Lim Guan Eng’s stance amounts to: “Bring in more foreign workers, make it easier, but ensure they are paid low wages so employers remain happy.” His suggestions would lower our labour standards and promote discriminatory policies.
Pitting local and foreign workers against each other will only result in all workers losing their rights.
PSM reiterates our call for:
- Equal minimum wage for all workers,
- Equal EPF contributions for migrants, and
- Strict enforcement of ILO conventions.
S.Arutchelvan
Deputy Chairperson
Parti Sosialis Malaysia