It is not appropriate in the long term to push graduates into semi-skilled and unskilled jobs with low salaries as it could lead to future underemployment and productivity loss for the nation, said Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran.

The former human resources minister said even if salary levels improve gradually with economic growth, post-Covid 19 pandemic, Malaysia's reliance on cheap labour will give no guarantee that wages will go up in tandem.

"By paying youths low wages equivalent to minimum wage, we have underutilised the potential of youths in the country, and so policies...