JENIANG, 2 March- The implementation of the new minimum wage of RM1,700 will not burden employers, but will instead produce more committed and responsible employees.

This was the assertion of Mohd Hafizal Idris, the owner of Kopi Peng Studio, who welcomed the government's move to enforce the implementation of the new minimum wage rate.

"We welcome the minimum wage of RM1,700. This means that we will continue to implement it. Previously, we also followed the RM1,500. In addition, employees also have contributions to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and SOCSO," he said when met by RTM.

Mohd Hafizal also stressed that as an employer, he not only ensures the welfare of his employees, but also helps them improve skills that can be used to become entrepreneurs in the future.

Meanwhile, Nurhasyifa Abdul Rahman, who has been working as a barista at Kopi Peng Studio for the past year, said the minimum wage increase helped cover her family's daily expenses.

"Alhamdulillah, going from RM1,500 to RM1,700 really helped a lot with family expenses, besides adding to my experience working here," she said.

Her co-worker, Mohd Faris Fadhil, also stressed the minimum wage increase has a positive impact on the cost of living.

"With the rising cost of living, this minimum wage increase has really helped me reduce the burden of daily expenses," he said.

Previously, the government had agreed to increase the minimum wage from RM1,500 to RM1,700 per month, effective last February.

However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that employers with fewer than five employees would be given a six-month grace period, with implementation only commencing on 1 August 2025.