MARAN, March 30 — Employers who failed to implement the minimum wage despite repeated warnings risk a five years jail sentence, a RM20,000 fine, or both.

Deputy Minister of Human Resources Datuk Ismail Abd Muttalib said an  employer could be fined RM10,000 for the first offence and RM1,000 daily for the second offence for each employee.

“Those who are stubborn and refused to implement minimum wage despite  warnings and action will be fined RM20,000 or five years jail or both,” he told  reporters after presenting multi-purpose cards to more than 100 retirees from the Community Development Department (Kemas) here, today.

Ismail said although minimum wage was to be implemented last year, it was postponed several times as employers were still not ready to implement it.

He regretted that many employers took the matter lightly although they were given enough time to implement minimum wage. — Bernama