PUTRAJAYA: The National Wages Consultative Council (Amendment) Act 2025 came into effect Friday (Aug 1), extending the current minimum wage to apprenticeship contract workers.
In a statement, the Human Resources Ministry said Minister Steven Sim had set Aug 1, 2025, as the commencement date for the amendments.
“Under the amendment, the current minimum wage now applies to apprenticeship contract workers, in line with the government’s commitment to enhancing protection and welfare for all categories of workers,” the statement read.
An apprenticeship contract refers to an agreement in which an employer undertakes to employ and systematically train a person in a specific trade, ranging from six to 24 months, during which the apprentice is bound to work for the employer.
The ministry also expressed appreciation to employers who had already been paying the minimum wage to apprenticeship workers ahead of the legal requirement.
The ministry then reminded employers paying wages above the minimum rate that they are not permitted to reduce salaries to match the statutory threshold.
The ministry announced that the Minimum Wage Order 2024 will take effect on Aug 1, 2025, setting a minimum wage of RM1,700 per month for employers with fewer than five employees who are not engaged in professional activities classified under the Malaysian Standard Classification of Occupations 2020
The ministry urged employers to comply with the minimum wage laws enforced by the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Labour, Sabah Labour Department and the Sarawak Labour Department.
Employers found guilty of failing to do so face fines of up to RM10,000 for each affected worker, the statement concluded. – Bernama
The Star. (2025, August 1). Minimum wage extended to contract apprentices as amended law takes effect, says HR Ministry. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/08/01/minimum-wage-extended-to-contract-apprentices-as-amended-law-takes-effect-says-hr-ministry
- PERKESO reforms ensure comprehensive protection for all workers, says HR Minister
KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry, through the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), continues to undertake comprehensive reforms to strengthen social protection for all contributors, including gig workers and foreign workers, says Steven Sim Chee Keong. The Human Resources Minister said that 10 major reforms have been implemented over the past two years to provide more […] - KESUMA’s drive for fair work and shared progress
The LIFE AT WORK Awards (LAWA) hosted by Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), celebrates its 10th edition, solidifying its influence as a platform that drives transformation in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in Malaysian workspaces. With concerns regarding human capital rising amid the ubiquity of artificial intelligence (AI), it is crucial now more than ever […] - ‘Many employers not making mandatory Perkeso, EPF contributions’
KLANG: The Human Resources Ministry has detected a worrying number of employers still refusing to register or make mandatory contributions to the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for their workers. The ministry stressed that such actions violated employees’ rights and denied them basic protection. Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul […] - Nearly 500 labour law breach cases detected
KLANG: Almost 500 investigation papers have been opened against employers for breaches of labour laws as of Nov 1, says Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad. Among the most common labour law offences are employers’ failure to make the mandatory contributions to the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) or the Employees Provident Fund […] - MOHR Won’t Tolerate Companies Preventing Workers From Forming Union
The Industrial Relations Department of the Human Resources Ministry (MOHR) has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding workers’ rights after a gathering and memorandum submission by several labour unions concerning alleged union-busting practices. The department emphasised that it respects the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech, while reiterating that workers’ rights to form […] - Court Orders Employer To Pay 93 Migrant Workers Outstanding Wages
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong has welcomed the Shah Alam High Court’s decision to uphold an earlier ruling by the Labour Court, ordering an employer to pay outstanding wages to 93 migrant workers who were left without work upon arrival in Malaysia. The High Court on 31 October 2025 affirmed the Labour Court’s […] - No tolerance for employers who withhold wages, says HR Minister
The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) has urged all employers to take heed of the recent Shah Alam High Court ruling which upheld a decision in favour of 93 migrant workers in an unpaid wage case. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the Oct 31 decision sends a strong message that failure to […] - THE HEART WORK REVOLUTION
TEN years after its inception, the Life at Work Awards (LAWA) 2025 marked not just a milestone but a movement that celebrates how Malaysia’s workplaces are evolving with compassion, flexibility and purpose. Hosted by Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), the gala night honoured organisations leading the way in shaping a fairer, more progressive, human-centred world […] - Group wants clear framework, pilot projects before expanding EIS to gig workers
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Industrial, Commercial and Service Employers Association (Micsea) has called on the government to set a clear policy framework and run pilot projects before expanding the Employment Insurance System (EIS) to gig and platform-based workers. The association said the plan, announced by human resources minister Steven Sim in the Dewan Rakyat on […] - Employer group seeks clarity on foreign worker pay rules after court ruling
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 3): The Malaysian Industrial Commercial & Service Employers Association (MICSEA) is calling on the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) to issue clear and structured guidelines on wage payment timelines for foreign workers, following a recent court ruling that employers must pay wages from the moment these workers arrive in Malaysia. The call […]