Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said State civil servants can expect a salary increase in line with the Prime Minister’s recent proposal of a 13 per cent hike for Federal counterparts from December.
However, Hajiji did not disclose the increment rate, saying the State Government would have to wait for the announcement from the Federal Government expected to be made during the tabling of the National Budget for 2025.
“Salary hike, this is what we have been waiting for. We will also give a pay hike for State civil servants,” he said at a press conference after attending the State-level Labour Day Tripartite Celebration 2024 at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Tuesday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said the increase would involve an allocation of over RM10 billion.
“The increase will be more than 13pc. The best increase in history, by the Madani Government,” he said, when officiating the National Labour Day celebration.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said under the Public Service Remuneration System which is being revised, the Government would ensure that the minimum income for civil servants exceeds RM2,000 per month.
“Currently, the overall minimum income, which includes salary and fixed allowances is RM1,795 per month.”
Anwar said the highest pay hike was 13pc about 12 years ago, and the Madani Government would ensure it would be higher this time.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said the State Government fully supports the setting up of the Sabah Labour Advisory Council, to ensure the welfare of workers and employers is always prioritised.
He said the Council comprised 16 trade union representatives and 16 from the largest employers’ associations in Sabah, while the Government side consists of 16 state and federal departments and agencies responsible for State labour issues.
“The State Government has high hopes that through this council every policy and legislative decision by the Government will fully take into account the real situation in Sabah.
“The council will also be a platform to channel views, advice and suggestions related to labour matters to the Government. This is to ensure that policies and legislation suitable for Sabah’s industry can be translated more accurately and fairly,” he said.
Hajiji also wants every plan of the Human Resource Ministry (Kesuma), including skills training for workers and job seekers, to be implemented in Sabah.
“I hope all human capital development initiatives and programmes implemented by Kesuma also give priority and focus to employees, employers and the people in Sabah.
“This is to ensure Sabah is at par with the achievements of other states. All the programmes are also in line with the aspirations of the State Government, through the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) initiative,” he said.
Also present were Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif and Human Resources Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman, in his speech, said there are 756 trade unions across the country, with a membership of over 1 million people; with Sabah having 84 trade unions, with a total of 53,321 members.
“The percentage of workers who join unions in Sabah is only 2.58 per cent, compared with the total number of workers in the fourth quarter of 2023, which is 2.061 million people, according to data released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia,” he said.
He said in Sabah, through enforcement activities, the Labour Department (JTK) last year had managed to collect RM38.9 million from 5,367 employers who committed offences.
He said the enforcement activities have directly benefited 159,491 workers, and 14,746 workers have benefited financially.
“As of April 15, Sabah JTK has successfully collected RM6.36 million, involving 1,250 employers,” he said.
