HR Guide to Annual Leave in Malaysia 2024
Feeling overwhelmed by Malaysia’s annual leave regulations? With a diverse workforce and unique cultural nuances, keeping up with the labour laws can be a bit tricky to navigate.
But don’t worry, HR leaders! In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the key regulations of annual leave in Malaysia, from entitlements and calculations to other relevant considerations.
We’ll help you ensure your team is getting the time off they deserve. So, let’s get started.
Annual Leave Entitlement in Malaysia
The Employment Act 1955Â (as amended in 2022) dictates minimum annual leave entitlements for all employees:
- Less than 2 years:Â 8 days per year
- 2-5 years:Â 12 days per year
- Over 5 years:Â 16 days per year
Employees must utilize their annual leave within 12 months of earning it. Unused leave may be forfeited.
For an incomplete year of service, entitlement is pro-rated based on completed months of service.
Public Holidays in Malaysia
In accordance with the Employment Act, employees are entitled to 11 paid public holidays each year.
Mandatory Public Holidays
Under the Employment Act, employees are entitled to 11 public holidays annually, including 5 designated as:
- National Day
- Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
- Birthday of the Ruler or Yang di-Pertua Negeri (or Federal Territory Day if the employee works in a Federal Territory)
- Workers’ Day
- Malaysia Day
Before the start of each calendar year, employers are required to prominently display a notice informing employees about the 6 remaining public holidays that they are entitled to.
Note:Â The government may declare additional public holidays throughout the year. Employees are entitled to a paid public holiday on any day declared a public holiday.
