Ensuring a Fair Daily Wage Without Politicising the Private Sector

Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera The 2026 budget proposal to uplift plantation workers through higher daily wages is a positive step. Yet the decision to grant attendance incentives directly from the government raises deeper questions about governance, equality and the autonomy of private enterprise. This article argues that fair wages must be ensured through law and tripartite consultation, not political intervention, to protect both workers’ dignity and private sector independence. The budget’s proposal aims to uplift the living standards of plantation workers by ensuring that they receive a fair daily wage commensurate with the value of their labour. The proposal,…

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