More than 100,000 security guards nationwide are expected to get a RM700 minimum wage by the end of this month, Labour Department director-general Sheikh Yahya Sheikh Mohammed said today.

He said the government stood by its earlier announcement that the minimum wage would be implemented, effective Jan 1.

He told Bernama that if the guards did not get the new wages by Jan 31, they could enquire from their employers first, and if they still were unable to get it, they could report to the nearest labour department.

Sheikh Yahya said the department had also met the Security Services Association of Malaysia and explained the government’s decision.

In an immediate response, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) welcomed the announcement as this fulfilled one of the resolutions which the congress adopted at its triennial delegates conference last month.

- Bernama