Gain practical insights into Malaysian employment laws, compliance, and HR best practices to effectively manage HR functions in Malaysia.

Introduction

Managing employees in Malaysia requires more than good HR practices, it requires a sound understanding of Malaysian employment legislation, industrial relations, statutory obligations, and the practical application of employment laws. With frequent legislative updates and increasing employee awareness of their rights, employers and HR professionals must ensure their HR practices remain legally compliant while balancing operational and business needs.

Whether you are managing employees in Malaysia directly, overseeing regional HR operations, or supporting cross-border business activities, a thorough understanding of Malaysian employment law is essential to minimise legal risks, avoid costly disputes, and build sound employer-employee relationships.

This program provides participants with a comprehensive and practical understanding of Malaysia's employment legislation, including the Employment Act 1955, Industrial Relations Act 1967, Minimum Retirement Age Act 2012, Minimum Wages Order, and other important employment regulations. The programme also covers the significant amendments to the Employment Act that took effect from 1 January 2023, enabling participants to confidently apply the law to real workplace situations.

Unlike purely legal programmes, this seminar focuses on the practical HR application of Malaysian employment laws through case studies, examples, and discussions of common workplace issues faced by HR practitioners and managers.

Course Details: 

Learning Objectives

• Understand the framework of Malaysian employment legislation.

• Interpret and apply the Employment Act 1955 confidently.

• Understand the latest Employment Act amendments and their practical implications.

• Distinguish between contracts of service and contracts for services.

• Manage wages, working hours, leave, and statutory benefits correctly.

• Handle disciplinary issues, misconduct investigations, and employment termination lawfully.

• Understand retrenchment, redundancy, and lay-off requirements.

• Manage foreign employee employment obligations.

Outline

Part A

• The Industrial Relations Act 1967 – will this be used for termination/dismissal case?

 

Part B

• Code of Conduct for Industrial Harmony (CCIH) 1975 – is it enforceable?

 

Part C

I. The Employment Act 1955

• Objective of the Act

• Purpose of the Act

• Application of the Act

• Definitions – Who is covered under the Act?

• Contract of/for service

 

II. Scope & Application of the Act.

 

III. Contracts of & for Service - Presumption of employee and employer relationship in the absence of a written contract

 

IV. Termination of Employment

• Modes of Termination

• Notice of Termination

• Payment In-Lieu Of Notice

• Breach of Contract

 

V. Modes & Provisions.

 

VI. Matters Relating to Wages

• Definition Of Wages

• Calculation of wages for incomplete month’s work

• Time Of Payment

• Deduction of Wages

 

VII. Protection Accorded to Women (Maternity Protection)

• Enhanced Maternity Leave

• Dismissal

• Maternity Allowance

• Entitlement

 

VIII. Statutory Benefits

• Hours of Work

• Rest Day

• Public Holidays

• Annual Leave

• Enhanced Sick Leave

• Paternity Leave

• ORP & Payments

Outline

IX. Termination & Lay-Off - does this apply to employees who earn above RM4000?

• Notice Of Termination and Lay-Off

• Payment Of Exclusions

• Reorganization, Redundancy & Retrenchment

• Criteria for Retrenchment

 

X. Introduction of Flexible Working Arrangement

• Process of accepting or rejecting Flexible Working Arrangement

 

XI. Employment of Foreign Employees – who do you inform?

 

XII. Complaints & Enquires – Section 69

 

XIII. Minimum Retirement Age Act 2012 (MRA)

• Definitions

• Applicability

 

XIV. Minimum Wages Order 2012 (MWO)

• Definition and Eligibility

• Minimum Wage Rates

 

XV. Notice on Sexual Harassment (Brief Overview)

 

XVI. Misconduct in Employment (Brief Overview)

• Definitions

• Legal Provisions

• Types of Misconduct in Employment

 

XVII. Employment (Part-Time Employees) Regulations 2010 (Brief Overview)

• Definition

• Are part time workers same as casual workers?

Who Should Attend

• HR Directors

• HR Managers

• HR Executives

• HR Business Partners

• Line Managers

• Regional HR Professionals

• Legal and Compliance Personnel

• Anyone responsible for managing employees in Malaysia

 

Benefits of Attending

• Comprehensive understanding of Malaysian employment legislation.

• Practical knowledge of HR compliance requirements.

• Greater confidence in handling employee relations matters.

• Better understanding of employment termination procedures.

• Stronger capability to support Malaysian HR operations.

Trainer

Elsie Low is a HR Practitioner with over 25 years of experience. She has specific experience and strength in talent acquisition, human resource development, compensation and benefits development, payroll administration and management, talent management, employee communication and relations. She is a visionary and performance focused professional. Coupled with that, she has excellent business acumen with strong work ethics.

Elsie has worked in various multi-national and local SMEs and in different sectors such as manufacturing, electronics, construction, engineering and oil & gas. Her span of responsibility and experience are spent in various regional and leadership roles across different regions in ASEAN, Australia, China and Middle East.

Elsie graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Human Resource and a MBA in Finance. She also possesses the Certificate in Workplace Basics from Fairwork Commission Australia and an Advanced Certificate of Training and Assessment (ACTA).

She is currently one of the trainers for HRSINGAPORE's HR Certification Courses.

Administrative Details:

Scheduled Dates

• 8 December 2026  (Face-to-Face)  (48th Run) - Confirmed

• 22 April 2027  (Face-to-Face)  (49th Run)

Online/Virtual

• Available for in-company customised training

Duration / Venue

• One day

• 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

• Sheraton Towers Singapore  (48th Run)

Certification

A Certificate of Attendance will be awarded at the end of the course.

 

Cost

• S$ 926.50 w/GST (S$850.00) for Community/Corporate Subscribers

• S$ 959.20 w/GST (S$880.00) for Non-Subscribers

Funding

• Grants/Subsidies/SkillsFuture Credit are not applicable.

IHRP CPD Hours 

• 7

(Please refer to the IHRP website)

Refreshment

• Coffee & tea with snacks during the morning and afternoon breaks

• Lunch will be provided

Past Participants:

Past Participants' Comments

• "Elsie (Trainer) is very knowledgeable and always willing to go the extra mile by spending additional time to discuss and support others" - Kathleen Teo, Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd

• "Very good trainer!" - Vanese Lau, Onto Innovation Southeast Pte. Limited

• "The course was in-depth and training well delivered" - Rachel Wong, Panduit Singapore Pte Ltd

• "Elsie is superb! Highly knowledgeable and a real subject matter expert"

• "Excellent. Elsie is equipped with vast experiences. She manages to answer all the queries" - Joyce Ng, Advance Energy

• "I have learnt a lot on the Malaysia Employment Act. The trainer is friendly and clarified all my doubts effectively!" - Alan Goh, Extra Space Singapore Holdings Pte Ltd

• "The whole course is able to apply to our work" - Kat Chan, Chopard (Asia) Pte Ltd

• "Trainer has good knowledge and was able to share relevant case studies!"

• "Excellent! Trainer is very knowledgeable." - Jolene Loh, Marriott Customer Engagement Centre

• "It was an interactive course and it does help ease the understanding process." - Alicia Kong, CapitaLand

• "Trainer is very trained and experienced. A trainer who is very interactive and willing to answer questions posed."

• "It was all very useful - gave a great general overview!" - Jemma Quarterman, Lewis Public Relations Pte Ltd

• "The trainer shared many of his valuable experiences, which we learned a lot from. His explanations to our queries were very detailed." – Sue Ellen Lopez, Mercer Singapore

• "Cyril Sen is a well-versed trainer with a wealth of industrial knowledge and is still kept up to date with the current development of EA."

• "Trainer is very good." - Ivy Lua, Mondial Assistance Asia Pte Ltd

• "Excellent trainer! His presentation skill is great, able to capture attention, maintain interest and lots of real life examples and case studies that I can apply at work." - Josephine Tan, Pitney Bowes (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd.

• "The trainer is able to provide an illustration to help participants understand the topic." - Lim Sock Hwang, FMC Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd

• "Interactive and useful materials. Good job!" - Iris Goh, Cortina Watch Pte Ltd

• "The seminar is very well-organized. Trainer and organizer are very helpful and approachable." - Wong Lih Chyun, Kinetics Process Systems

• "Effective Trainer, clear and concise, good examples and gain a lot." - Lim Thou Mui, Swarovski

• "Excellent, Cyril is a good speaker to attract interest and gives real life examples." - Joyce Tia, Litespeed Education

• "I've learned a lot & gained valuable insights. Thanks." - Rose Chua, CapitaLand Commercial

• "Very informative. Excellent communication between trainer & trainee." - Danny Lin, Nizza Recruitment Services Asia

• "Cyril is very knowledgeable in his area of teaching." - Ngoh Joo Lee, J.V. Fitness

• "The Trainer has very good knowledge, able to inject humour during the course & very interactive. Well done." - Shirlene Wong, AIG

• "Cyril Sen is an experienced & knowledgeable on HRLAW of Malaysia. The seminar has been informative." - Jeffrey Low, Hong Leong Asia

• "I appreciate his effort not to teach what is right and what is wrong, but rather to understand the spirit of the law." - Eddy Neo, W R Grace

• "Cyril was able to relate the complex Malaysian HR law in a practical & easily understood manner to trainees. He is a good trainer!" - Cindy Soh, Lintec

• "Very informative & humorous trainer." Phyllis Poh, Sud Chemie

• "Very patient & detailed in his explanation. He tries to provide as many examples as possible to bring a point across." Wasantha West, AAR

• "Both the trainer, as well as the HRSINGAPORE® staff were very attentive to the participants' needs. Cyril has very good time control, able to keep participants interested in the subject." Doria Soh, MCL Land

• "Good advice & tips on practical usage." Kelly Kau, Achieve Limited

• "Very experienced in the laws & guides. Interactive learned a lot from him. Thank you very much, Cyril." Elaine Tang, Ascendas Land

• "Good impressive presenter, able to engage participants. Succeeded in making a topic like the law which is usually very dry, interesting." Jacquline Lee, Ascendas Land

• "Easy to understand especially when I am not from the HR department." Cynthia Goh, Goldheart Jewelry

• "Excellent lecturer & consultant." Chua Kah Tian, Hong Leong

• "Very interactive & informative." Irene Chua, JDS Uniphase

Past Participant Organisations

• 1-Stop Docentre, 8 Bar, AAR, Aberdeen Asset Management, ABR Holdings, ABSG Consulting Inc., Achieva, Admira, AEM Platronics, AEM-TECH Engineers, Aida Stamping Technology, AIG S E Asia, Akzo Nobel Powder Coating, All Nippon Airways, American Dynamics, Applied Materials, ARA Management, Ariba International Singapore, Arkema, Ascendas Land, Aspentech, Avanade Asia, AVI-Tech Electronics, Air Energi Group Singapore, Amazon Web Services Singapore Pte Ltd, APP Systems Services Pte Ltd, Aon Singapore Pte Ltd, Amazon Web Services Indonesia, Advanced Energy, aCommerce Pte Ltd, AES Global Holding Pte Ltd, AirTrunk Singapore Pte Ltd, Alfred H Knight, Aperia Cloud Services Pte Ltd, Autodesk Asia Pte Ltd, ASMPT SMT Singapore Pte Ltd

• Beiersdorf Singapore, Berkeley Books, Bloomberg L.P., Blue Coat Systems Singapore, Boehringer Ingelheim Singapore, BSH Home Appliances, Blackmores International, Burberry (S) Distribution Co. Pte Ltd, Bandai Namco Studios Singapore Pte Ltd

• CapitaLand Commercial & Integrated Development, CapitaLand Commercial, CapitaLand Financial, CapitaLand Residential Singapore, Catlin Asia, Celestica Electronics, Certis CISCO Security, CGGVeritas (Veritas Geophysical Apac), CGGVeritas Services (Singapore), Cheung Woh Technologies, Ching Yi Crafting, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Citibank, City Developments, Coface Services South Asia Pacific, CommScope Solutions, Component Technology, Compuware Asia Pacific, Connor Manufacturing Services, Cortina Watch, Covidien, Cummins- Corporate Recruiting Unit (NE & SE Asia), Cypress Semiconductor, CapitaLand Limited, Cartrack Technologies South East Asia Pte Ltd, C&W Services (S) Pte Ltd, Coherent Singapore Pte Ltd, Chopard (Asia) Pte Ltd, Constellar Group Pte Ltd, Convergint Singapore Pte Ltd, CPG Corporation Pte Ltd

• Daikin, DBS Bank, Deutsche Bank, DMG Mori Seiki South East Asia, Dredging International, Dyna-mac Engineering Services, DAS Environmental Equipment Singapore Pte Ltd, Dassault Systemes Singapore Pte Ltd, D-Ron Singapore Pte Ltd, DELO Industrial Adhesives (Singapore) Pte Ltd

• Ecquaria Technologies, Ednovation, Enzer Electronics, Epicentre Holdings, Equant, EXE Technologies, Ezra Holdings, Ezra Marine Services, Engro Corporation Limited, Elite International Logistics Singapore Pte Ltd, Extra Space Singapore Holdings Pte Ltd, Enable Consulting Pte Ltd, Excel Precast Pte Ltd, Emirates Shipping Singapore Pte Ltd, Epitex International Pte Ltd, Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd

• F & N Coca-Cola, F&N Foods, Far East Management, Farnell Components, Ferragamo (Singapore), Flextronics Plastics, Flight Focus, FMC Technologies S'pore, FME Onyx, Fujitsu PC, Fluke South East Asia Pte Ltd, FMC Agro Singapore Pte Ltd, Fuji Oil Asia Pte Ltd, Fugro Properties Pte Ltd, First Filter International Pte Ltd, Franklin Templeton Capital Holdings Pte Ltd, Faithful+Gould Pte Limited, FormFactor Singapore Pte Ltd, Far East Management (Private) Limited, Furuno Singapore Pte Ltd

• GB Yatch, GE Betz Singapore, GE Pacific, Geoservices, Global Beauty, Goh Joo Hin, Goldbell Corporation, Goldheart Jewelry, Gucci Singapore, GF Machining Solutions Pte Ltd, Gradiant International Holdings Pte Ltd, Ground Transportation Systems Singapore Pte Ltd, GME Chemicals (S) Pte Ltd, GNAME.COM Pte Ltd

• Hetat, Hewlett Packard Singapore, Honeywell, Hong Leong Asia, Horsburgh Engineering, Hudson Highland Group, Hitachi Chemical Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Haw Par Management Services Pte Ltd, Hitachi High-Tech Singapore Pte Ltd, Hiwin Singapore Pte Ltd

• Indochine Winebar & Restaurant, ISI-Dentsu South East Asia, Itochu, Ideal Systems (Singapore) Pte Ltd, IMI Precision Engineering, ICD Security Solutions Pte Ltd, IDEMIA Singapore Pte Ltd, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte Ltd, Intertek Testing Services (S) Pte Ltd

• J.V. Fitness, JDS Uniphase, John Bean Technologies Singapore, Johnson Controls Holding

• Kellogg Brown & Root Asia Pacific, Keppel Logistics, Kinetics Process Systems, Kith Marine & Engineering, Klenco, KLW Holdings, Koki, Kraft Foods, KS Distribution, Kulicke & Soffa, Kumon Asia & Oceania, Kuok (Singapore), KLA-Tencor (S) Pte Ltd, Kyocera Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, KLN Logistics Management (Asia) Pte Ltd

• L3 Communications, LEWIS Public Relations, LexisNexis, Lintec, Litespeed Education, Lucent Technologies, Lucite International Singapore, Luxasia Pte Ltd, Ledgen Singapore Pte Ltd, LVMH Watch & Jewellery Singapore Pte Ltd

• M + Zander, M. Moser Associates, Mapletree Investments, MCL Land, Mercer (Singapore), Miclyn Express Offshore, Mitsui Chemicals Asia Pacific, Modus Media International, Mondial Assistance, Multi-Fineline Electronix, MWH Consultants, MMD Singapore Pte Ltd, Marriott Customer Engagement Centre, Michelin Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Malayan Racing Association, Manulife Singapore Pte Ltd, Molnlycke Health Care Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd, Multi Water Holdings Ltd, Markem Imaje, Medline Industries Asia Pte Ltd, Millennium & Copthorne International Limited, Mondi Packaging Paper Sales Asia Pte Ltd, MUFG Fund Services Singapore Pte Ltd, Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd, MX Caterers (Asia) Pte Ltd, Mastercard Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Mastermark Pte Ltd

• Nagravision, National Oxygen, Nilfisk-Advance, Nizza Recruitment Services Asia, NOKIA, NIIT (USA) Inc. (Singapore Branch), Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd

• O. Mustad & Son, O.B. Singapore Operations, Owens Illinois Plastics, Outdoor Venture, Oxford Instruments Pte Ltd, Onto Innovation Southeast Asia Pte Limited

• Pacific Internet (S) Pte Ltd, Pall Filtration, PBI Interstate, Pitney Bowes, Plant Engineering Construction, Pokka International, PRADA Singapore, Premas International, Premiere Conferencing, Professional Software Systems, PSC Engineering, Public Utilities Board, Pacific Life Re Limited, Singapore Branch, PUB, PCI Private Limited, Prime Accountants LLP, Prime Shipbrokers Pte Ltd, Panduit Singapore Pte Ltd, PPG Industries (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Pokka Pte Ltd, Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd

• R E & S Enterprises, Research International Asia, Rockwell Automation, Rolls-Royce Singapore, RTP Company, Rohde & Schwarz Asia Pte Ltd, Radio Holland Singapore Pte Ltd, Rxilient Health Pte Ltd

• Sabic Innovative Plastics Singapore, Sanofi-Aventis, Seagate Technology, Sembawang Engineers & Constructors, Seng Heng Engineering, SF Consulting, Sibelco, Siempelkamp, Sin Soon Huat, Singapore Technologies Logistics, Singapore Telecommunications, Singapore Tourism Board, SingTel, SITA, Stone Apple Solutions, Sud-Chemie, Sumitomo Electric Wintec, Surbana International Consultants, Swarovski Singapore Trading, Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd, Singapore Branch, Symantec, Syspex, Spencer Ogden, Sembcorp EOSM Pte Ltd, Sibelco Asia Pte Ltd, Sabre Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Seaquest Engineering Pte Ltd, Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd, SICK Product Center Asia Pte Ltd, Sunray Woodcraft Construction Pte Ltd, Simple Solution Systems Pte Ltd, Samudera Shipping Line, Sarens JWS (S) Pte Ltd, SIA Engineering Company, Spencer Ogden Pte Ltd, Starbucks Coffee Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore Institute of Management Group Limited, Soil-Build (Pte) Ltd, Schaefer Systems International Pte Ltd

• Taiyo Yuden, TeleChoice International, Teradyne (Asia), The DRx Group, The Hour Glass, The Northern Trust Company Singapore Branch, The Timberland Company, Tien Wah Press, TriQuint International, Tyco Healthcare, The Salvation Army, Tokyo Electron Singapore Pte Ltd, Transform.Recreate, Telistar Solutions Pte Ltd

• UNI Strategic, United Engineers, Unisys Singapore Pte Ltd, Underground Technology Engineering Construction Pte Ltd

• Virtual HR, Vistra Corporate Services (SEA), Vitahealth, Vitol Asia Pte Ltd, Vopak Asia, Vopak Terminals Singapore

• W R Grace, Web Professional House, Wilson Parking (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Wise Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd, W. Atelier Pte Ltd

• Yara Asia Pte Ltd, YHS (Singapore) Pte Ltd

• Zimmer, Zuhlke Engineering Pte Ltd