Malaysian Low-Income Workers Face Alarming Food Affordability Issues

A study by Universiti Malaya reveals that low-income Malaysians work far longer than those in other countries to afford basic food items, attributed to low wages significantly below global standards. The study highlights the urgent need for policy reforms to address food affordability, rising food inflation, and low wages affecting urban households reliant on market purchases for nutrition.

A recent study from the Social Wellbeing Research Centre at Universiti Malaya highlights the financial struggles of low-income Malaysians who are required to work considerably longer hours to afford basic food items compared to their counterparts in other nations. The findings indicate that the prevailing low wages in Malaysia fall significantly short of international standards, raising concerns regarding food affordability for many households.

For instance, it was reported that while a minimum-wage worker in the Netherlands requires just four minutes of labor to purchase one liter of milk, a minimum-wage worker in Malaysia must labor for 58 minutes for the same quantity. This inconsistency is echoed across other staple foods. A Malaysian worker needs to work 130 minutes for 1kg of chicken, contrasting sharply with only 28 minutes needed by an Australian worker. Furthermore, acquiring 1kg of beef demands 271 minutes of labor from Malaysians, compared to just 45 minutes for New Zealanders.

Malaysians also face significant time investments for fruits and vegetables. For 1kg of apples, bananas, and lettuce, workers are required to work 92, 47, and 34 minutes respectively, while workers in the Netherlands and Germany spend mere minutes on these items. The research underscores the dire situation, revealing that a considerable portion of the workforce earns below two-thirds of the median wage and the minimum wage in Malaysia is markedly lower than levels in peer countries.

The study notes that urban dwellers, lacking access to land for subsistence farming, are entirely reliant on purchasing food from markets. This economic reality suggests that food security in urban areas is dictated by affordability rather than availability. With no means to cultivate their own meals, income becomes the pivotal factor influencing access to nutritious food, forcing many households to seek cheaper, less healthy food options like instant noodles and fried foods.

Additionally, food inflation compounds these issues, as evidenced by the 6.8% spike in food prices in 2022, notably affecting staples such as rice, chicken, and vegetables. The research advocates for three primary policy measures: introducing a social protection floor, enhancing school feeding programs, and implementing automatic adjustments to the minimum wage based on low-wage indicators.

The study also emphasizes the importance of bolstering child benefits and income support for vulnerable populations to prevent food insecurity during economic downturns. It recommends providing at least one nutritious daily meal for schoolchildren to alleviate financial burdens on low-income families. Furthermore, wage reforms are suggested to align wages with inflation adjustments, ensuring that the purchasing power of low-income earners rises in conjunction with rising living costs.

While the minimum wage in Malaysia was held at RM1,200 from 2020 to 2023, recent public advocacy has led to an increase to RM1,500 in 2023 and RM1,700 set for 2025.

The study conducted by the Social Wellbeing Research Centre illustrates the harsh realities faced by low-income workers in Malaysia, who must labor significantly longer hours to afford basic food staples compared to their international peers. It highlights serious concerns regarding food affordability, wage shortages, and rising food inflation, suggesting that policy reforms could alleviate some of these burdens. Key interventions proposed include the establishment of social protections, enhancements to school feeding programs, and automatic wage adjustments to improve living standards for low-income families.

Original Source: www.malaysianow.com