Is Grade 19 pay for administrative assistants effectively at the poverty line?

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Grade 19 Administrative Assistant Salaries Are Considered at Poverty Level

The starting salary for an administrative assistant at Grade 19, which begins at RM1,352 before allowances, is considered to be at the poverty line. This assessment comes from the Amalgamated Union of Employees in Government Clerical and Allied Services (AUEGCAS), which is advocating for a review of the administrative assistant service scheme due to its long-standing salary structure. The union argues that the current remuneration does not reflect the evolving responsibilities and qualifications of administrative assistants.
Current Salary Scale Below Subsistence Level

The administrative assistant service scheme, particularly at Grade 19, has an entry-level salary of RM1,352 per month, excluding additional allowances. AUEGCAS president Ashman Mohd Nawawi stated that this salary scale is effectively at the poverty line, indicating that it is insufficient to meet basic living expenses. This situation is attributed to the scheme's appointment conditions, which have not been significantly updated for over seven decades.
Long-Standing Appointment Grade and Qualifications

The educational qualification for entry into the administrative assistant role at Grade 19 has remained the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) for approximately 73 years. AUEGCAS is calling for an upgrade of these entry requirements to Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) or an equivalent qualification. This stagnation in appointment conditions is cited as a primary reason for the persistently low salary scale, which the union believes is no longer adequate given the current economic climate and the increased complexity of public service roles.
Discrepancy Between Qualifications and Remuneration

Despite the entry-level qualification remaining at SPM, a significant number of current administrative assistants possess higher educational attainment, including Bachelor's, Master's, and even doctoral degrees. Ashman highlighted that there are approximately 350,000 administrative assistants nationwide who are union members and hold advanced qualifications. The union contends that the current remuneration system does not adequately recognise this disparity between the educational background of many employees and the salary offered at Grade 19.

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Is Grade 19 pay for administrative assistants effectively at the poverty line?

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