Malaysia plans RM2,500 starting salary guidelines for graduates and semi-skilled workers by June 2027, with rates based on occupations, qualifications and skills.
PUTRAJAYA: The Human Resources Ministry is preparing guidelines for a starting basic salary of RM2,500 for graduates and semi-skilled workers, with implementation targeted for June 2027, said its minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
He said the guidelines would initially cover occupations under categories one to three of the Malaysia Standard Classification of Occupations (MASCO), including degree and diploma holders, as well as workers with Malaysian Skills Certificates and Diplomas.
“For semi-skilled occupations, we will align this approach with the Skills-Based Starting Basic Salary Guidelines, including holders of Malaysian Skills Certificates at Levels 1 and 2.
“This will enable the starting basic salary framework to be expanded comprehensively to cover MASCO categories one to eight,” he said at a press conference on the 2027 Minimum Wage Order here today.
Ramanan said the ministry was preparing a comprehensive set of Starting Basic Salary Guidelines to provide employers and workers with a clear reference for starting salaries based on occupation, qualifications and skills.
He said the starting basic salary rates would be updated using the latest data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to reflect prevailing labour market conditions.
The updated rates would be uploaded to the e-MASCO portal and published alongside the new Minimum Wage Order in June 2027, he said.
Ramanan said the guidelines were targeted for publication and implementation alongside the Minimum Wage Order, providing employers and workers with a centralised reference for starting basic salaries based on occupation, qualifications and skills.
The guidelines are part of the wage reforms announced under Budget 2027 by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which include raising the national minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000 a month from June 2027, benefiting more than four million workers.
However, micro, small and medium enterprises with annual sales below RM50 million will be exempt from the minimum wage increase to allow them time to adjust.