Find work in Malaysia
Malaysia — 33 million people, Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), Malay, English, Mandarin, Tamil. Full employment compliance handled for you, paid every Friday.
Capital
Kuala Lumpur (administrative: Putrajaya)
Population
33 million
GDP / capita
$12,570
Currency
MYR
Malaysian Ringgit
Time zone
UTC+8 (MYT)
Working in Malaysia: what to expect
Key employment law provisions that affect your engagement. Corpshore handles compliance so you don't have to navigate this alone — but knowing your rights matters.
Standard workweek
45h max
45 hours (reduced from 48 in 2023 Employment Act amendment)
Annual leave
11 public holidays
8-16 days depending on tenure (8 days for 1-2 years, 16 days for 5+ years)
Maternity leave
98 days (increased from 60 in 2023), paid by employer
Paternity leave
7 days (introduced 2023)
Notice period
4-8 weeks depending on tenure
Severance
10-20 days per year depending on tenure (Employment (Termination and Lay-Off Benefits) Regulations 1980).
Overtime rules
1.5x (normal day), 2x (rest day), 3x (public holiday). Applies to employees earning ≤RM 4,000/month (or all manual labourers).
Probation period
3-6 months typical (contractual)
Tax landscape in Malaysia
Indicative tax ranges for general orientation. Always consult a qualified tax advisor for your specific situation. Tax year: Calendar year.
- Income tax
- 0% to 30%
- Corporate tax
- 24% (17% for first RM 600k for SMEs)
- Social contributions
- EPF (pension): 11% employee + 12-13% employer. SOCSO: ~1.75% employer + ~0.5% employee. EIS: 0.2% each.
- VAT / GST
- SST (Sales and Service Tax): 6-10% (replaced GST in 2018)
Treaty network
Over 75 tax treaties
Your fee is always zero
Corpshore charges the hiring business, never you. You receive 100% of the agreed rate, regardless of tax jurisdiction.
How you get paid in Malaysia
DuitNow (instant transfer by proxy) and IBG (interbank GIRO) handle domestic transfers. DuitNow QR unifies QR payments. Wise supports MYR.
Bank transfer (IBG/DuitNow)
Wise
Settlement
Every Friday
No net-30 waits, no chasing invoices
Platform fee
Zero, forever
The business pays Corpshore, never you
Currency
MYR
Local currency where supported
Regulatory landscape in Malaysia
Corpshore manages compliance so you can focus on the work. Here's what shapes the regulatory environment for workers in Malaysia.
Worker classification
Employment Act 1955 (significantly amended 2022). Now covers all employees (previously limited by salary threshold).
Data protection
Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA). Department of Personal Data Protection enforces.
Right to work
Employment Pass for professionals (minimum RM 10,000/month). EP categories 1-3 based on salary level.
Non-compete enforceability
Enforceable if reasonable. Malaysian courts apply English common law principles.
Collective bargaining
Trade Unions Act 1959 governs. MTUC (Malaysian Trades Union Congress) is the main body. Union density ~6%.
Working culture in Malaysia
Business culture
Multicultural (Malay, Chinese, Indian) with varying business norms. Malay culture values harmony and face. Chinese Malaysian business is relationship-driven. English is widely used in business.
Key industries
Talent pool strengths
Historical context
Malaysia's semiconductor industry, centred in Penang, began when Intel opened its first offshore assembly plant there in 1972. Today, Malaysia produces ~13% of the world's semiconductor packaging, testing, and assembly output. Penang is the 'Silicon Island of the East,' hosting Intel, AMD, Broadcom, and hundreds of E&E companies. The 2020s global chip supply chain restructuring is driving further investment.
At a glance
- Official name
- Malaysia
- Languages
- Malay, English, Mandarin, Tamil
- Time zones
- UTC+8 (MYT)
- Data region
- Asia-Pacific
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