RM2,500 gross is about RM2,208 in your account
Mydin's MD Ameer Ali Mydin said paying new grads RM2,500 could upset experienced staff; the clip went viral and ex-staff shared working conditions.
What happened1/2 MD Ameer Ali Mydin's comment on the RM2,500 wage spread fast
Mydin managing director Datuk Wira Ameer Ali Mydin told Astro AWANI's Fokus Minggu Depan that fixing graduate salaries at RM2,500 could create pay gaps with experienced staff. He cited a RM2,300 salary as an example where 'employees already feel comfortable.'
The clip spread quickly on social media. A post by @kiwiflavouredcat urging the chain to improve staff welfare collected 14,600 likes and 1,200 comments at the time of writing. Ex-staff and shoppers weighed in: no bonus, no increment, a T-shirt deposit, and one commenter's observation that most floor staff are foreign workers.
The real numbers2/2 Three wage numbers in Budget 2027, and what they mean
RM1,700current national minimum wageRM2,000new minimum wage from June 2027RM2,500proposed starting wage for graduatesBudget 2027 (tabled by PM Anwar Ibrahim on 9 October 2026) sets out two different wage floors. The national minimum wage rises from RM1,700 to RM2,000 a month from June 2027. The starting wage of RM2,500 targets semi-skilled positions and fresh graduates. They are not the same thing.
Micro, small and medium enterprises with annual revenue below RM50 million are exempted from the minimum wage increase to give them time to adapt.
Gross EPF 11% SOCSO + EIS PCB Take-home RM2,300 RM253 RM15.75 RM0 ~RM2,031 RM2,500 RM275 RM17.15 RM0 ~RM2,208 - 01/01
RM1,700 current national minimum wage Three wage numbers in Budget 2027, and what they mean current national minimum wage
Questions people ask
Is the RM2,500 starting wage the same as the minimum wage?
No. The minimum wage rises to RM2,000 from June 2027 and covers almost all employees. The RM2,500 starting wage is a separate benchmark for semi-skilled positions and fresh graduates. Implementation details are not out yet.
Does Mydin's MD comment mean they will not pay RM2,500?
He raised a concern about internal pay equity, not a refusal. The RM2,500 starting wage is a Budget 2027 proposal. Until the Finance Bill passes and implementation rules are published, no employer is legally bound to it.
How much do I actually get from a RM2,500 gross salary?
e.g. EPF 11% (RM275), SOCSO RM12.25, EIS RM4.90, PCB RM0. Take-home is about RM2,208 a month. Your exact figure varies with reliefs, allowances and any loan deductions.
Source: Focus MalaysiaBernamaMalay Mail
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