Long Hours for Basic Food: Study Reveals Challenges for Low-Income Malaysians
A study by Universiti Malaya reveals that low-income Malaysians must work significantly longer hours than workers in other nations to afford basic food items, such as milk, chicken, and vegetables. The research highlights severe issues of food affordability due to low wages, food inflation, and suggests policy interventions to improve food security and purchasing power.
A study conducted by the Social Wellbeing Research Centre at Universiti Malaya indicates that low-income Malaysians must work considerably longer hours than their counterparts in other countries to purchase basic food items. The research highlights that food affordability is a pressing issue, compounded by wages in Malaysia that are significantly below global standards.
For instance, while a minimum-wage worker in the Netherlands can earn enough to buy one litre of milk in just four minutes, a Malaysian worker must labor for 58 minutes for the same amount. This discrepancy extends to other food staples, with Malaysian workers requiring 130 minutes to purchase 1kg of chicken compared to only 28 minutes in Australia.
Further disparities are evident, as Malaysians must work 271 minutes to buy 1kg of beef, while New Zealand workers require only 45 minutes. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, Malaysians need to work increasingly longer hours: 92 minutes to buy 1kg of apples versus just six minutes in the Netherlands. This trend continues for bananas and lettuce, indicating a severe affordability crisis.
The research notes that many urban residents lack the ability to engage in subsistence farming, a privilege available to some rural households. Consequently, food security in urban settings does not depend on availability, but rather on affordability. The inability to cultivate food directly impacts access to nutrition, compelling urban dwellers to purchase all meals, with income as the primary determinant.
Due to the pressure of low wages, numerous households are turning to unhealthy and nutritionally inadequate food options like instant noodles, which are cheaper. With food items absorbing a large percentage of low-income workers’ salaries, any inflation, such as the 6.8% rise in food prices in Malaysia for 2022, further deteriorates their purchasing power. Essential staples like rice and chicken have seen significant price increases.
To address these challenges, the study recommends three major policy interventions: instituting a social protection floor, enhancing school feeding programs, and implementing automatic minimum wage adjustments linked to wage indicators. It emphasizes that bolstering child benefits and support for disabled and elderly individuals can help mitigate food insecurity during challenging economic times.
Moreover, the report calls for the government to ensure at least one nutritious meal per day for schoolchildren, thereby reducing food costs for low-income families. Wage reforms are also urged, proposing the introduction of a structured adjustment mechanism tied to inflation, ensuring that the median wage allows low-income workers to manage rising costs effectively. The minimum wage, previously stagnant at RM1,200 from 2020 through 2023, was increased to RM1,500 in 2023 and is projected to rise to RM1,700 in 2025 following public advocacy.
The findings of the study underscore the serious challenges faced by low-income Malaysians in affording basic food items compared to international standards. With a notable disparity in the work hours required to purchase essential food, the recommendations highlight vital policy interventions necessary for enhancing food security. Addressing wages and providing essential support through government programs will be critical in alleviating the economic strain on vulnerable households.
Original Source: www.malaysianow.com
