As garment minimum wage talks begin, other sectors want in
Meeting at the capital’s Sunway Hotel, union organisers from sectors as varied as construction, food services, tourism and manufacturing discussed a variety of approaches – from a flat minimum wage that would span all industries to a more measured sector-by-sector approach – to push on the national level. William Conklin, country director for worker advocacy group Solidarity Center, said the meeting was driven by an increasing sense of urgency among non-garment sector unions, eager to stake out their positions on the minimum wage going forward. Across town yesterday, the Labour Advisory Committee had its first meeting, signalling the start of this year’s minimum wage discussions for the garment industry, which now stands at $140 a month.
