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Malaysia Leave Laws (NEW)

HRMS
July 24, 2025 by Admin

A Complete Guide to Malaysia Leave Laws
Ensuring Rest, Recovery & Work-Life Balance for Every Employee

Malaysia’s leave laws are designed to ensure employees are not only fairly compensated for their work—but also entitled to adequate time off for rest, recovery, family responsibilities, and personal matters.


Malaysian Employment Leave Guide

Under the Employment Act 1955 and other supporting regulations, employers are required to provide various types of leave including:

  • ✅ Annual Leave
  • 🤒 Sick Leave
  • 🤰 Maternity & Paternity Leave
  • 📚 Study or Emergency Leave (based on company policy)
  • 🎉 Paid Public Holidays

This guide explores the key provisions of Malaysia's leave entitlements and how companies can stay compliant while supporting employee wellbeing.

📌 Whether you're an HR professional or SME owner, understanding these laws is essential to building a healthy, legally compliant workplace culture.

⚖️ Core Leave Laws All Employers Must Know
Table of Contents

✅ Mandatory Leave in Malaysia

Staying compliant with these regulations is crucial for avoiding legal risks, employee dissatisfaction, or claims of unfair treatment. The Employment Act 1955 requires all employers in Malaysia to provide certain types of paid leave. One of the key entitlements is annual leave, which ensures that employees have time off for rest and personal matters.

📅 Annual Leave – Section 60E

Employees who have completed at least 12 months of continuous service are entitled to paid annual leave based on their years of employment:

Length of Service Minimum Paid Annual Leave Entitlement
1 to 2 years 8 days per year
2 to 5 years 12 days per year
More than 5 years 16 days per year
🤒 Sick Leave - Section 60F

Sick leave is a mandatory benefit under Malaysian labour law to ensure employees can recover from illness without loss of income. Section 60F of the Employment Act 1955 outlines the entitlement based on the employee's duration of service.


📋 Paid Sick Leave Entitlement
Length of Employment Annual Sick Leave Entitlement
1 to 2 years 14 days
2 to 5 years 18 days
More than 5 years 22 days
📝 Sick Leave Conditions

To be eligible for paid sick leave:

  • The employee must obtain a Medical Certificate (MC) from:
    • A registered medical practitioner, or
    • A registered dental surgeon (if dental-related)
  • (The employer must bear the medical cost)
  • The employee must inform the employer within 48 hours of the illness or start of leave.
  • Failure to do so may result in the leave being considered unpaid or unauthorized.
💰 Sick Leave Payment & Salary Treatment
  • Sick leave is paid at the employee's normal wage rate
  • For employees on monthly salary, paid sick leave is already included in the monthly wage
  • No salary deductions should be made for valid, approved sick leave

✅ With MOCHI HRMS+, sick leave balances, MC attachment, HR approvals, and payroll integration are fully automated—making it easy to track entitlements and ensure compliance.