KUALA LUMPUR: The rising cost of living has driven Malaysian blue-collar workers to demand for minimum wage and cost-of-living allowance.

Many union representatives, despite the risk of arrest, took their case to lawmakers by staging a picket outside the parliament.

Factory worker Vaneshi Gopal was among the hundreds of blue-collar workers picketing outside the Malaysian parliament house, which was surrounded by tight security.

A single mother of three, Vaneshi, who makes about US$200 a month, complained that the rising cost of living in the capital has caused her severe hardships and may force her children to drop out of school.

"My husband is dead, only I am working. How can my salary be enough? I still have to pay rent. It's not enough," she said.

The rally was organised by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).

The union estimates that 40 per cent of the country's private sector employees, most of whom work at plantations and factories, earn less than 700 ringgit (US$220) a month.

It is now demanding a minimum wage of 900 ringgit (US$280) across the board, plus a cost-of-living allowance of 300 ringgit (US$90) to cushion the impact of rising food prices.

Currently only civil servants have a cost-of-living allowance.

MTUC vice president Mustafar Maarof said: "Even Thailand has a minimum wage, Singapore has a minimum wage. I don't think there's going to be a big impact on hiking up prices."

The union said the public sector has already received an increment of up to 40 per cent through a salary adjustment last year, while the private sector has yet to follow suit.

It vows to continue picketing till the government gives in to their demands. - CNA/ac