EPF endorses RM2,000 minimum wage and expanded retirement savings measures
The Employees Provident Fund supports the 2027 budget’s RM2,000 minimum wage increase and new policies to broaden retirement savings for Malaysians.
In a statement, EPF chief executive Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn welcomed the 2027 budget’s plan to raise the national minimum wage to RM2,000, calling it a key reform for labour welfare and retirement security. The fund also supports increasing the living-wage benchmark for government-linked investment companies to RM3,400 and pledges full implementation. New provisions will automatically register Malaysians at age 18 as EPF members, encouraging earlier savings.
The i-Saraan Plus scheme for e-hailing and p-hailing drivers will continue, offering a 20 percent government match up to RM600 per year and RM6,000 over a lifetime. EPF also promotes a sustainable withdrawal option through its i-Emas programme, allowing members to receive monthly payouts while keeping the balance invested for dividends.
Why it matters
The measures aim to boost low-income workers’ earnings and increase retirement savings across Malaysia.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps present the EPF endorsement positively, but the centrist coverage highlights the reform’s impact on workers’ livelihoods and national income distribution, while the right-leaning coverage stresses labour welfare, retirement security, and specific savings scheme details.
CENTER
Frames the wage increase as an important labour market reform that improves workers’ livelihoods and broadens the share of national income for labour.
RIGHT
Frames the wage increase as a key reform for labour welfare and retirement security, highlighting new automatic EPF enrollment and specific savings schemes.
The right emphasises
- key reform for labour welfare and retirement security
- automatic registration of Malaysians at age 18 as EPF members
- details of i-Saraan Plus and i-Emas schemes
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