KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,114 employers have opened accounts to take part in the Progressive Wage Policy as of last month, the Dewan Negara was told today.
Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said that of this number, 479 employers have already submitted their applications.
"Of the 479 employers, 269 have also increased their employees' wages as required and met the minimum training requirement of 21 hours.
"This number will continue to grow as new employers meet the conditions to receive incentives," he said in response to Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari in Dewan Negara today.
In response to Vell Paari's supplementary question on whether the PWP would increase costs for employers, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Rafizi said that this concern is not significant.
"The issue of rising costs does not heavily affect SMEs because any wage increases for the first two years will be borne by the government.
"In fact, with a more skilled and capable workforce, businesses have greater potential for expansion and higher revenue due to increased productivity," he added.
In January, Rafizi said the PWP pilot programme, which ran from June to December last year, successfully increased private sector wages in the country.
For entry-level workers, the median starting salary increased from RM1,950 per month (before the implementation of the Progressive Wage Policy) to RM2,200 per month, a rise of RM250 per worker.
Under the 2025 Budget, the government has allocated RM200 million for the implementation of the policy, which is expected to benefit 50,000 workers.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/03/1184050/1114-employers-set-accounts-under-progressive-wage-policy