PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said many in the hospitality, services and travel industries will have to close down if the government goes ahead with the RM1,500 minimum wage scheme.

He urged the government to consider the financial abilities of various economic sectors before implementing the RM1,500 minimum wage.

He said in a statement today that the issue was not just about the RM1,500 minimum wage but also other things such as tax, accommodation, food, EPF, insurance and other staff benefits, making the net cost of doing business a lot higher.

He said the government should discuss with business operators first before implementing the new scheme.