PUTRAJAYA is studying several measures to help food traders and restaurant operators cope with economic challenges, Rafizi Ramli said today. 

With increasing costs, such as the implementation of the RM1,500 minimum wage, the economy minister said the government is looking at ways to reduce burdens in the Food and Beverage (F&B) industry as well as give the country’s economy and job market a boost.  

He said this included the possible introduction of a gig workforce in the F&B sector.  

“There are several measures that are being looked at to help traders and restaurant operators deal with the increases they bear, including the potential of spreading the part-time workforce model (gig workforce) in the F&B sector. 

“It is part of the effort to align the job market with the demands of the economic sector, which is part of the overall effort to restructure the national economy,” Rafizi said in a statement today.  

Rafizi’s statement came after the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Jawahar Ali Taib Khan advised consumers to be very selective when buying food at restaurants as price increases could not be avoided.    

The Pandan MP welcomed the views of the Presma president, saying it was in line with the government’s opinion. 

He added that all parties — government, traders, and consumers — have a role to play in dealing with the increase in food prices.  

“Efforts to curb inflation require all parties to work together,” he added.  

On Wednesday, Rafizi said that although inflation for December 2022 eased to 3.8% compared to 4% in the months of October and November, the increase in prices of food and drink, especially in restaurants and hotels, was the main contributing factor to inflation.  

He said that the inflation in this category increased to 7.4% in December 2022 compared to 7% the previous month.  

Rafizi, however, had said that Malaysia could not become a “communist” nation, whereby the government regulates the prices of food. 

Rafizi said that he would soon meet with representatives of restaurant operators and food traders to bilaterally discuss measures that could be taken together. – January 27, 2023.