One such policy, which I believe is long overdue, is a minimum wage framework. Because when we allow companies to pay pittance, we demean the work of another’s hands. By allowing it to go on for as long as it has, we have inevitably demeaned their personhood. And we continue to scorn their dignity by saying that they are not worth that much. We say to them that they are negligible. That they are of little, or no value at all.

Minimum wage is not an "ideal policy". It is a necessary policy that must be put in place to act as a check and balance on capitalism, which left unregulated will and has manifested in uncontrolled greed, where the poor cannot afford a RM3.50 meal, and the rich pay RM200,000 for a two-seater sofa set.

So, I say to this government and to the Human Resources Ministry: For goodness sake, if you want to regulate something, regulate the right things. Impose a minimum wage now, because relying on the conscience of big business isn’t going to take the thousands of lowly paid workers out there very far.

And please, stop mouthing ridiculous statements like "Implementing minimum wages is not feasible." Not feasible for whom? The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers? The Malaysian Employers Federation?

Jerit, an NGO that has been petitioning for a minimum wage since the 90s, recently launched a cycling campaign starting from Alor Star on Dec 3, culminating in the handover of a memorandum to the prime minister on Dec 18. Their goal is to raise awareness on the need for a minimum wage policy along the way. If you can’t cycle, go adopt a cyclist now at www.jerit.org .

It’s time to empower the poor, and to restore their dignity by affirming the worth of their labour.

Michelle Lee
Petaling Jaya