In particular, Oxfam calls on ASEAN member states to push businesses across Asia to lift minimum wages to living wage standards. The government of Indonesia has proposed that the entire ASEAN adopt a common regional minimum wage. A living wage factors in all basic expenses (food, housing, education, and health), and spending for disasters or medical emergencies. A living wage is not the panacea to enduring social and economic inequality, but it would go a long way towards ending it. In addition to the living wage, ASEAN must look into the gender wage gap, women across Asia being paid less wages as men for the same work.

Source: Thanhnien News September 07, 2016 08:03 UTC