Not working as HR, but same thing goes to job seekers, of course we are helping each other to raise the salary bar

On a serious note, I've always appreciate the SOP of recruitment in the EU. They set a budget for the role (e.g. 40k - 45k p.a.) and that's it, regardless of your previous pay or position, either you get it or not. Fair to both parties.

I mean, they can always reward those who are more experienced with more bonus, instead of penalize someone with less experienced who's doing the same job.

If the less experienced performs better, then he/she deserves more rewards. The thing about our work culture is that, there's always someone who's willing to take the job with lower pay hence we believe in punishment instead of reward to motivates workers.

This mindset is shaped by "since no Malaysian is willing to do the job, we import cheap foreign workers who are willing to do it with lower than minimum wages".

Ultimately, if the government decided to take a stance on "made in Malaysia" and increase all minimum wages to at least RM2k which only seems viable for a single average living cost, the dynamic of our job market will definitely change.

My friend in Australia has been a barista in a local cafe for more than 10 years since 16 year old in Tasmania, and still able to afford to purchase a 2 bedroom flat in 30 years mortgage, and some.