The sharing session featured Dr Martin O'Brien from the University of Wollongong as the speaker. Dr O'Brien is a respected labour economist and senior lecturer, presented on the topic "Youth Minimum Wages and Public/Private Wage Spillovers: A Discussion of Contemporary Wage Setting Issues in Australia." This talk explored the dynamics of minimum wage policies, with a particular focus on youth wages and how wage changes in the public and private sectors impact broader labour market outcomes.
The session was attended by key stakeholders, including members of the Malaysian Economic Association, Majlis Perundingan Gaji Negara, representatives from the World Bank, the Ministry of Human Resources, Permodalan Nasional Berhad Research Institute and Bank Negara Malaysia. The dialogue provided an important platform for policymakers and researchers to exchange insights on wage regulation, labour market impacts and policy implications, with relevance to both Malaysia and Australia.
Dr O'Brien's research highlights issues such as youth unemployment, wage spillovers between sectors, and labour market adjustments to minimum wage changes, emphasising empirical evidence and practical policy considerations. The session was valuable for all attendees in understanding current wage-setting challenges and potential strategies for effective labour market regulation.
This engagement reflects ongoing collaborative efforts to address social and economic wellbeing through informed policy dialogue involving public institutions and international research expertise.
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