TheBestEOR

Best Employer of Record in Malaysia

Written by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis
Picture of Martynas Pupkevicius
Martynas Pupkevicius

EOR Advisor and Remote Work Editor

Our top employer of record in Malaysia for 2026 is RemotePeople, from USD 499 per employee a month, ahead of Multiplier and Deel.

We tested all 10 providers with paid client accounts, real quotes and a live hire run through payroll. In Malaysia, employer EPF retirement and insurance contribution rates depend on the employee’s nationality, age and work region.

Flag of Malaysia

Hiring in Malaysia at a glance

Currency
MYR
Malaysian ringgit
Pay cycle
Monthly
Pay period cannot exceed 1 month
Working hours
45 hours
Weekly, check Peninsular, Sabah or Sarawak law
Annual leave
8 days
After 1 year, 12 after 2 years, 16 after 5
Extra pay
Per contract
Check if an annual bonus is guaranteed
Employer costs
EPF pension
Plus social insurance, unemployment and training costs vary
Before you hire:
Confirm the work region and the employee’s nationality and age before calculating contributions.

Country hiring overview · Malaysia

Hiring in Malaysia, at a glance.

Confirm the applicable employment law and payroll scope.

For a Malaysian hire, I’d first establish whether the work location is in Peninsular Malaysia, Labuan, Sabah or Sarawak. Ask the provider to identify the applicable employment rules and to price contributions and benefits for the employee’s actual circumstances.

Choose a hiring solution

Need a local employer?

Compare an EOR arrangement for your role before opening your own entity.

Already have a local employer?

Compare payroll and HR support against adding an EOR.

EOR service fee

Fees vary by provider.

Your quote should state the currency, fee per employee, minimum charge and billing commitment.

Onboarding

Paperwork affects the start date.

The contract, right-to-work checks, registrations and payroll deadlines all affect when employment can begin.

Employment costs

Check each contribution scheme.

EPF, SOCSO and EIS have separate contribution calculations. Ask which apply to the employee, and have any applicable levy shown separately in the quote.

Annual leave

Leave increases with service.

The Employment Act allowance ranges from 8 to 16 days, depending on length of service. Check the applicable regime for employees in Sabah or Sarawak.

Check before choosing

Confirm the governing employment law, contribution eligibility, wage bases, benefits and any employee-specific immigration work.

What your quote should include

Employment costs and service fees

1
Gross salary and agreed pay schedule
2
EPF, SOCSO, EIS and any applicable levy
3
EOR fee: currency, per-employee billing, minimums and commitment
4
Setup, foreign exchange, extras and exit costs

Deposits and payroll funding

1
Amount and payment deadline
2
Whether funds are refundable or credited to payroll
3
Release conditions and refund timing
Show these separately from recurring expenses.

Key takeaways for hiring in Malaysia

The same salary can have a different EPF bill

Most covered non-Malaysian employees moved to 2% employer and employee contributions from October 2025. Permanent residents and some earlier members follow other rates. Membership history, residence category and age belong in the quote inputs.

The RM4,000 threshold has exceptions

Certain overtime and termination-benefit provisions exclude higher-paid non-manual employees, while specified occupational categories remain covered irrespective of wages. Check the actual duties before treating a higher-paid worker’s overtime or termination benefit as purely contractual.

A late-year arrival may still become tax resident

Malaysia’s residence tests extend beyond counting 182 days within one calendar year. Linked periods across adjoining years and other tests can matter. Record the arrival date and travel history before using a blanket non-resident assumption in the offer’s take-home estimate.

Use contribution schedules for the final payroll

SOCSO and EIS payments follow contribution schedules. Treat percentage-based examples as estimates; use the correct worker category and scheduled amount for the actual payroll calculation.

Quick verdict

What is the best EOR in Malaysia?

I’d check who can sponsor the Employment Pass.

Ask for the named Malaysian employer, the full fee and the support included. If the hire needs a pass, confirm the employer’s eligibility before agreeing a start date.

1
Multiplier logo

4.1/5

Multiplier

Managing payroll, leave and expenses in one place

Starting fee
$459

per employee / month

Countries
150+
where you can hire

Billed annually. $499 billed monthly.

Deposit
1+ months

of gross salary plus contributions

Deposit refund
Within 60 days

of the last working day

Why consider it

A set monthly payroll calendar, with salaries paid at month-end.

SOC 2 Type II audited every year and ISO 27001:2022 certified.

Check the fit

Integrations and API access need the Growth plan.

Before signing: An implementation fee can apply on some plans, so get setup confirmed as free in your quote. Confirm the employing entity for each country in your contract.

At $459 a month billed annually, the first year for one hire is $5,508 in service fees. Salary, employer costs and the refundable deposit come on top.

Visit Multiplier ↗

2
Editorial pick
RemotePeople logo

4.9/5

RemotePeople

Hiring in new markets with local HR support

Starting fee
$499

per employee / month

Countries
150+
where you can hire

EOR Select from $199 for eligible hires.

Deposit
1 month

of gross salary

Deposit refund
Within 5 days

of the final payment

Why consider it

Recruitment and EOR services through one provider.

Dedicated account manager in both EOR plans.

Check the fit

Recruitment is separately priced.

Before signing: Confirm quote currency, billing commitment, deposits, funding deadlines and refund terms. EOR Select eligibility depends on the hiring country and employee salary.

Both EOR plans list local contracts, payroll and tax administration, and statutory benefits administration. Salary, employer contributions and benefit costs are separate.

Legal employer in Malaysia
✓ Verified on register

Employing entity
Own Sdn. Bhd.
SSM 202301007543 (1501464-M) · incorporated 2023

Visit RemotePeople ↗

3
Deel logo

4.7/5

Deel

Paying employees and contractors on one platform

Starting fee
$599

per employee / month

Countries
130+
where you can hire

Plus a mandatory Employer Liability Cost.

Deposit
1–1.5 months

of gross salary

Deposit refund
Within 60 days

of offboarding

Why consider it

EOR, contractor management and payroll for your own entities.

Month-to-month EOR service pricing available.

Check the fit

Ask for the country-specific Employer Liability Cost in your quote.

Before signing: Confirm the Employer Liability Cost amount, benefit costs and any additional products. Monthly service terms do not remove employment notice, severance or other exit obligations.

The EOR pricing page lists 130+ countries. Broader platform coverage figures may include other services.

Employing entity
Deel Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
SSM 202101025100 (1425400-K) · incorporated 2021 · confirm it is the employer named in your contract

Local office
Confirm in your quote

Visit Deel ↗

No provider pays for a position on this page; some outbound links pay a referral fee. See the funding model and methodology.

Provider comparison

All 10 EOR providers for Malaysia, side by side

Compare monthly fees per employee in ringgit.

In ringgit, the fee column runs from about RM814 a month at the $199 floor to RM2,859 at Oyster’s $699. Fees are June 2026 list prices per employee per month.

Three of the ten say they own their Malaysian entity: Multiplier, Deel and G-P; Rippling does not say. The same ten providers are compared side by side in the global EOR ranking. For a wider shortlist, browse EOR providers for Malaysia.

Provider

Best For

Starting feeDepositOnboarding
1 Multiplier logo Multiplier 4.1/5 Rating Managing payroll, leave and expenses in one place Starting fee: $459 USD / monthDeposit: 1+ monthsOnboarding: Ask for a start date

My take

I’d start with Multiplier Core if you need employment administration, payroll, leave and standard workforce reporting.

Core starts at $499 per employee per month on monthly billing or $459 per month billed annually. For integrations, custom reports and open APIs, I’d compare the Growth plan. The quote needs to identify the dollar currency and chosen plan.

Country variations and mandatory add-ons affect the total. Implementation fees may apply, although the FAQ says setup is free; the quote must resolve that charge. Salary, employer costs and benefit premiums are additional.

When this provider fits

Multiplier, RemotePeople and Deel should be compared using the employee’s actual location, nationality and residence status.

Deposit

1+ months

Entity model

Own entities and partners

First year, one hire

$5,508 in service fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$459

Core plan billed annually, or $499 per month on monthly billing. Confirm the dollar currency.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest
2 RemotePeople logo RemotePeople 4.9/5 Rating Hiring in new markets with local HR support Starting fee: $499 USD / monthDeposit: 1 monthOnboarding: 5–8 days

My take

I’d consider RemotePeople if a dedicated account manager is part of the support you want.

The service includes local employment contracts, payroll and tax administration, and statutory-benefits administration. I’d price recruitment separately, as it is a separate service.

EOR Global starts at USD 499 per employee per month. EOR Select starts at USD 199 for eligible countries and employee salary ranges. Salary, employer contributions, benefit costs and agreed extras are additional. The country quote determines eligibility, the final fee, billing commitment and payroll funding.

Deposit

1 month

Entity model

Own entities in core markets

First year, one hire

$5,988 in service fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$499

EOR Global. EOR Select starts at $199 where the country and employee salary qualify.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest
3 Deel logo Deel 4.7/5 Rating Paying employees and contractors on one platform Starting fee: $599 USD / monthDeposit: 1–1.5 monthsOnboarding: 2–5 days

My take

Deel makes my shortlist when you want EOR payroll and benefits administration alongside separate contractor and HR products.

EOR starts at USD 599 per employee per month, with month-to-month billing available. I’d budget beyond that fee: mandatory Employer Liability Cost is an additional charge based on gross salary, with rates varying by country. Salary, statutory employer costs and benefit premiums are also separate.

Contractor management starts at USD 49 per active contract per month. It is a separate service from EOR employment; currency conversion, payment-method charges and any required deposit also affect the amount funded.

When this provider fits

For a foreign hire, I’d compare Deel, Rippling and Borderless AI on the named sponsor, eligible role and application work included in the proposal. Keep government approval separate from provider onboarding.

Deposit

1–1.5 months

Entity model

Owned entity

First year, one hire

$7,188 in service fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$599

Month-to-month billing. Mandatory Employer Liability Cost is charged separately.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest
4 Rippling logo Rippling 4.5/5 Rating Setting up payroll, laptops and app access for new hires Starting fee: $499 USD / monthDeposit: Per quoteOnboarding: 2–5 days

My take

I’d consider Rippling when shared employee data across HR, IT and finance would help your workflows and reporting.

It connects EOR employment with those products, but device management and app access are separate products within the wider system.

Rippling EOR starts at USD 499 per employee per month, and the required Rippling Platform adds from USD 8 per employee per month plus a monthly base fee. The quote needs to show any selected HR, IT or finance products and the billing commitment. Salary, employer costs, benefits, deposits and payroll funding are additional to the software and service fees.

Deposit

Per quote

Entity model

Own entities and local partners

First year, one hire

$5,988 in EOR fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$499

Plus the required Rippling Platform, from $8 per employee per month and a monthly base fee. Confirm the billing terms and selected products.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest
5 Oyster logo Oyster 4.5/5 Rating Using one onboarding process for hires across countries Starting fee: $699 USD / monthDeposit: ~1 monthOnboarding: 10–14 days

My take

I’d look at Oyster for payroll, expense and time-off administration, reporting, and onboarding and offboarding support.

Benefits packages are optional add-ons. At USD 699 per employee per month on monthly billing, I’d compare the included support carefully against the other quotes.

Annual seats are priced by headcount and location and are non-refundable, but can be reused for replacement hires. Annual prepayment gives the lowest fee; higher-priced quarterly or semiannual payment options are available. Salary, employer costs and benefit premiums are additional, and a refundable deposit is required. Optional People Partner project work costs USD 300 per hour.

Deposit

~1 month

Entity model

Own entities and vetted partners

First year, one hire

$8,388 in service fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$699

Monthly billing. Annual seats are quoted separately, prepaid and non-refundable.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest
6 Pebl logo Pebl 4.2/5 Rating Hiring people who need visa or relocation support Starting fee: $399 USD / monthDeposit: Per quoteOnboarding: 7–10 days

My take

I’d look at Pebl, formerly Velocity Global, when you want hiring, payroll, employee changes, reporting and offboarding in one platform.

EOR starts at $399 per employee per month. Before using that figure in a budget, I’d have the country quote identify the dollar currency and billing commitment. Salary, employer costs, benefits and additional services are separate.

A deposit is required before onboarding. Its amount can change with salary, seniority or payment history, and it is returned after the final invoice and outstanding balances are paid. Early exit can make the remaining committed-term service fees payable, subject to the agreement’s termination exceptions. Any discounted offer needs an end date and renewal price.

When this provider fits

For a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident, compare Pebl and RemoFirst on the employment package, support commitments and complete quote. For another nationality, recalculate the employee’s statutory category before using the same total. Permanent-resident status can materially change EPF compared with the ordinary 2% non-Malaysian category, so it belongs in the brief sent to both providers.

Deposit

Per quote

Entity model

Affiliates and local partners

First year, one hire

$4,788 in service fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$399

Confirm the country price and billing commitment.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest
7 G-P logo G-P 4.2/5 Rating Hiring abroad while keeping your existing HR system Starting fee: $599 USD / monthDeposit: 1–2.5 monthsOnboarding: 2–5 days

My take

G-P would be on my shortlist when benefits, reporting and custom API integrations matter alongside EOR employment administration.

EOR starts at USD 599 per employee per month, with volume discounts by quote. I’d keep salary, employer costs, benefit premiums and additional services separate in the budget.

There is no minimum contract length for EOR hires. The proposal still sets the commercial billing and cancellation terms, along with the cost of any integration or implementation work.

Deposit

1–2.5 months

Entity model

Owned entity

First year, one hire

$7,188 in service fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$599

Confirm the included services and billing terms in your country quote.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest
8 Papaya Global logo Papaya Global 4.1/5 Rating Comparing payroll costs across countries in one report Starting fee: $499 USD / monthDeposit: 1–2 monthsOnboarding: 7–10 days

My take

Papaya interests me when payroll and payments need to work together across EOR employees and your own entities.

It brings those employees, own-entity payroll and workforce payments into one platform, with consolidated reporting and payroll approval tools. That connection is what I’d focus on in the evaluation.

Papaya’s EOR service starts at USD 499 per employee per month. The country quote must identify the billing commitment and any additional services. Salary and employer costs are separate.

Deposit

1–2 months

Entity model

Partner model; confirm employer

First year, one hire

$5,988 in service fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$499

The country quote sets the billing terms. Payroll-only processing is priced separately.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest
9 Borderless AI logo Borderless AI 4.0/5 Rating Getting 24/7 help with overseas payroll and HR Starting fee: $579 USD / monthDeposit: 1.5–3 monthsOnboarding: 7–12 days

My take

I’d compare Borderless AI using both its current offer and the fee after it ends.

The standard EOR fee is USD 579 per employee per month. Eligible companies headquartered outside Canada may qualify for USD 399 on fees billed through 31 December 2026. USD 579 applies from 1 January 2027, including promotional customers; country and employment-type exceptions apply. Salary, employer costs and benefits are additional.

A refundable deposit is required before the employee starts. The schedule is 1.5 months of gross salary plus employer costs, benefits and platform fees with ACH or three months by wire and other methods, with country variations. The base includes salary, employer contributions, benefits and platform fees. Late-payment issues can raise it to six months. Deposits are released after the relevant obligations are settled.

Deposit

1.5–3 months

Entity model

Own entities

First year, one hire

$6,948 in service fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$579

Eligible companies headquartered outside Canada can pay $399 on fees billed through 31 December 2026.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest
10 RemoFirst logo RemoFirst ⚠ Trustpilot warning 0.5/5 Rating Making a first overseas hire on a tight budget Starting fee: $199 USD / monthDeposit: About 1 monthOnboarding: 5–9 days

My take

We moved RemoFirst to last place on 8 November 2026: Trustpilot has suspended its rating for a breach of its guidelines and removed fake reviews.

RemoFirst says it works exclusively with vetted in-country partners. Here, that means a local partner company, not RemoFirst, would normally employ your hire, and payroll changes, questions and exits pass through both companies, which can slow answers. US$199 is RemoFirst’s starting fee and varies by country, so get this country’s quote before you compare. RemoFirst’s lack of a minimum contract term or headcount makes it worth considering for a small team. I’d compare its dedicated customer success manager and EOR employment service from USD 199 per employee per month against the support you need. The fee can vary with country requirements. Salary, employer costs, benefits, deposits and optional services are separate.

Contractor management is free for onboarding, identity checks, contract storage and expenses. Contractor payments cost USD 25 per contractor in months when a payment is processed; payment-provider and transfer fees may also apply. These contractor services are separate from EOR employment.

Deposit

About 1 month

Entity model

Partners, not own entities

First year, one hire

$2,388 in service fees

Reviewed by Martynas PupkeviciusFact-checked by Michael Ennis

Starting fee

$199

RemoFirst advertises no minimum contract term or employee count. Confirm any country-specific charges.

Against the 10 starting fees

$199 lowest$699 highest

Entity ownership is as each provider states it.

Comparison as of 6 October 2026. Confirm the employing entity, immigration scope, start date and first-payroll cutoff.

Which top pick · Malaysia

Ask for a written quote covering the salary, benefits and services you need. Enter its recurring costs in USD in the EOR cost calculator to compare proposals.

Local Malaysian alternatives (researched, unranked): a few Malaysia-only firms also provide EOR or local payroll outsourcing, including Ajobthing and QuickHR on the HR-software side and regional players such as Talenox for payroll. None of the three is ranked: Ajobthing and QuickHR lead with HR software, Talenox with payroll tooling, and none runs a multi-country entity network. An employer hiring in Malaysia alone, with no expansion plans, may still be well served by one of them.

Get your EOR discount

Get up to 30% off eligible EOR service fees. Your quote confirms the discount and terms.

Employment framework

Employment and payroll in Malaysia

The work location affects payroll contributions.

Malaysia’s employment and contribution rules depend on work location and worker category. The proposal should show applicable EPF, SOCSO, EIS and tax treatment, plus any Employment Pass approvals.

Contract of service and applicable law

The EOR’s Malaysian entity becomes the legal employer under the contract of service. Confirm the law applicable to the employee’s work location, including whether the Employment Act 1955 and the 2022 amendments in force since 1 January 2023 apply.

You direct the work. The EOR’s Sdn Bhd administers the contract, applicable EPF, SOCSO and EIS obligations, and monthly PCB filings with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).

Before choosing a provider: request the legal employer’s name and registration details.

EPF, SOCSO and monthly reporting

Applicable registrations

The EOR arranges registration with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF/KWSP), Social Security Organisation (SOCSO/PERKESO) and LHDN as applicable.

Worker-specific rates and levies

Ask the provider to set out employee and employer contributions by age, nationality, residence status and other applicable categories. Confirm the EPF, SOCSO, EIS, PCB income-tax and HRD Corp levy treatment.

Wages and remittance deadlines

The Employment Act provides for wages to be paid within seven days of the end of the wage period. Confirm the actual payroll calendar and each contribution and tax deadline, including which remittances are due by the fifteenth of the following month.

Employment Pass responsibility

For a foreign hire requiring an Employment Pass, identify the proposed employer, the applicable ESD Online or MyXpats process, and who handles approval and endorsement. Obtain a schedule for the actual employee.

Obtain approvals before work begins

1

Agree the contract and prepare payroll records

Agree salary and the proposed start date. The EOR prepares the local contract of service, collects identity and bank details, and arranges the applicable employment, contribution and tax records.

2

Confirm permission and the payment calendar

Complete any required immigration approvals before the employee begins work. Confirm the first salary date and ongoing remittance calendar in the onboarding plan.

Employer cost

Statutory employer contributions in Malaysia

Add employer contributions before the EOR fee.

All figures as of 2026. The combined employer load is about 14 to 16 percent of gross, before the EOR fee.

Fig. 2 · Where the ~15% goes: employer contributions as a share of gross, within the 2026 ceilings

Contribution Employer rate Cap / basis Agency
Contribution

EPF (provident fund)

Employee also pays 11%
Employer rate
13% if wages ≤ RM5,000; 12% if > RM5,000
Cap / basis
On full wages (no ceiling)
Agency
KWSP / EPF
Contribution

SOCSO (social security)

Employment Injury + Invalidity
Employer rate
~1.75%
Cap / basis
Wage ceiling RM6,000 (since Oct 2024)
Agency
PERKESO / SOCSO
Contribution

EIS (employment insurance)

Employee also pays 0.2%
Employer rate
0.2%
Cap / basis
Wage ceiling RM6,000
Agency
PERKESO / SOCSO
Contribution

HRD Corp levy (HRDF)

Manufacturing, services, mining & quarrying
Employer rate
1% (0.5% voluntary for 5–9 staff)
Cap / basis
Only if ≥10 Malaysian employees in a covered sector
Agency
HRD Corp

Fig. 3 · Mandatory employer contributions in Malaysia, 2026 rates and monthly ceilings

For a RM6,000 salary in a covered sector, EPF 12% = RM720, SOCSO 1.75% capped on RM6,000 = RM105, EIS 0.2% = RM12, HRDF 1% = RM60, a total of about RM897, or roughly 15 percent on top of gross. Most employees in the covered non-Malaysian category contribute EPF at 2% each from October 2025; permanent residents, pre-August 1998 members and excluded categories require separate treatment. Insurance obligations also depend on the worker category, so confirm any applicable SPIKPA cover separately. The EOR fee sits on top of all of this.

Permanent residents and the 2% foreign-worker category

Consider two employees under 60 with RM6,500 of EPF-contributable monthly wages. A Malaysian permanent resident follows the standard category, with an employer contribution of RM780 at 12%. An eligible non-Malaysian employee in the post-August 1998 membership category has a 2% employer contribution, RM130. The RM650 difference is an EPF difference only.

Age, EPF membership history and permanent-resident status therefore need to reach payroll before the quote is finalised. SOCSO, EIS, immigration charges and applicable insurance must be assessed separately. Where the 2% calculation produces cents, KWSP instructs employers to round the share upward to the next ringgit.

Working time & leave

Working hours, overtime and statutory leave

Overtime pay depends on the job and salary.

The Employment (Amendment) Act 2022 cut the work week to 45 hours and extended core protections to all employees, but specified overtime and rest-day pay provisions generally exclude non-manual employees earning above RM4,000. Listed occupational categories retain coverage irrespective of salary.

Hours and overtime

Standard week 45 hours
Normal overtime 1.5× hourly
Rest day (half) 1.0×
Rest day (over half) 2.0×
Public holiday 3.0×
Public holidays/yr 11 federal + state

Fig. 4 · Hours and overtime multipliers under the Employment Act · statutory coverage depends on salary and occupational category; higher-paid non-manual staff are generally excluded from these payment provisions

The statutory overtime and rest-day payment provisions generally exclude non-manual employees earning above RM4,000; the First Schedule preserves coverage for specified occupational categories regardless of wages. Malaysia gazettes 11 federal public holidays plus state holidays that vary by state, so total public holidays differ between, say, Selangor and Sarawak.

Statutory leave

Annual leave
by tenure
8 / 12 / 16 days
Sick leave (outpatient)
by tenure
14 / 18 / 22 days
Hospitalisation up to 60 days
Maternity 98 days
Paternity 7 days

Fig. 5 · Statutory leave entitlements · annual and outpatient sick-leave tiers track service of under 2, 2 to 5, and 5 or more years

Annual and outpatient sick-leave tiers track years of service: under 2 years, 2 to 5 years, and 5 years or more. Maternity leave rose to 98 days and paternity to 7 consecutive days under the 2022 amendment. There is no statutory annual-leave carryover floor; carryover is set by contract. A 13th-month payment, the common contractual bonus, is customary rather than mandatory in Malaysia.

Ending employment

Probation, notice and severance in Malaysia

The grounds for dismissal matter as much as notice.

Notice follows the written contract and statutory fallback rules. Statutory termination and lay-off benefits depend on service and coverage; higher-paid non-manual employees are generally excluded, while specified occupational categories retain coverage. Every dismissal has to rest on just cause or excuse, and the EOR keeps the file that proves it.

Tenure Minimum  notice Termination & lay-off benefit
Tenure
Under 2 years
Minimum  notice
4 weeks
Termination & lay-off benefit
10 days' wages per year of service
Tenure
2 to under 5 years
Minimum  notice
6 weeks
Termination & lay-off benefit
15 days' wages per year of service
Tenure
5 years or more
Minimum  notice
8 weeks
Termination & lay-off benefit
20 days' wages per year of service

Fig. 6 · Minimum notice and termination benefits by tenure · benefit eligibility requires the service and occupational-coverage tests, including the higher-paid non-manual exclusion

Section 12 uses the written contract’s equal notice terms. Without a written provision, the fallback is four weeks below two years, six weeks from two to below five years, and eight weeks from five years. Specified redundancy circumstances preserve at least that statutory scale. Termination and lay-off benefit eligibility separately requires twelve months’ continuous service and the applicable occupational and wage tests. Malaysia has no at-will employment: a dismissal without just cause or excuse can be challenged at the Industrial Court, which can order reinstatement or back wages, so the EOR builds the documented case before any exit. Probation is typically three to six months, but a probationer still cannot be dismissed arbitrarily.

Redundancy of a 3-year employee on RM8,000/month Daily wage = RM8,000 / 26 = RM307.69

Notice (2–5 yr tier)

6 weeks, paid in lieu = RM8,000 × 6 / 4.33
RM11,085

Termination benefit

15 days/yr × 3 yrs = 45 days × RM307.69 (statutory if wages ≤ RM4,000; shown here as a contractual benchmark)
RM13,846

Accrued unused leave

Assume 6 days outstanding × RM307.69
RM1,846

Indicative exit cost

Before any ex-gratia settlement
RM26,777

Fig. 7 · Redundancy cost for a 3-year employee on RM8,000/month · the example assumes a non-manual role above RM4,000 and a contractual 15-days-per-year benefit

This RM8,000 example assumes a non-manual role excluded from the statutory termination-benefit provisions and a contract that grants the illustrated payment. The total excludes any negotiated ex-gratia sum, which is common in mutual separations. The termination across jurisdictions guide shows how Malaysia’s notice bands and severance formula sit beside other markets.

Payroll & tax

Payroll cycle and income tax in Malaysia

Wages and contributions have different due dates.

Income tax is withheld through the Potongan Cukai Bulanan (PCB), also called Monthly Tax Deduction (MTD), a pay-as-you-earn system run by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). Resident employees are taxed on progressive rates that rise to 30 percent on the top band; non-resident employment income is generally taxed at 30%, subject to exceptions. Apply the linked-period and other section 7 tests before treating fewer than 182 days as non-residence. The EOR computes PCB each month against the employee’s reliefs and remits it, with EPF, SOCSO, EIS and the HRDF levy, by the fifteenth of the following month.

Payroll runs monthly. Wages must be paid within seven days of the end of the wage period under the Employment Act, so most Malaysian employers pay on or before the last day of the month or the first few days of the next. The currency is the Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM), roughly RM4.1 to one US dollar at the July 2026 exchange rate. There is no statutory 13th-month salary or extra pay period; the common year-end bonus is contractual. The EOR issues the annual EA form each employee needs to file their own return.

A national EOR handles the distinction; a Malaysia-only domestic provider may not. EPF allows voluntary employer top-ups above the statutory rate, which some employers use as a retention benefit, and the EOR can run those alongside the mandatory 12 or 13 percent.

A year-end arrival needs a two-year travel record

An employee who arrives in October will not reach 182 days in Malaysia by 31 December. Section 7 includes a test linking a shorter period in one year to a qualifying consecutive period in the adjoining year, as well as separate residence-history tests. Only specified temporary absences can be counted within the linked period.

Before promising a net salary, collect the arrival date, planned travel and relevant previous-year residence history. Ask payroll to explain the initial withholding assumption and how it will handle the position when the facts become clear. Label any 30% non-resident illustration as one scenario. Employment Pass category and tax residence are different questions.

The employment contract

Contract requirements and 13th-month norms

Spell out whether the year-end bonus is guaranteed.

The contract of service is normally written in English, which Malaysian courts accept, though a Bahasa Malaysia version or bilingual contract is common and the EOR can supply one. Under the Employment (Amendment) Act 2022 the contract must state the particulars of employment, including wages, the wage period, hours, leave, and notice. A contract for a period longer than one month, or for work that cannot be completed within a month, must be in writing and include a clause on how either side terminates it.

Fixed-term contracts are permitted, but Malaysian industrial jurisprudence scrutinises them: a fixed-term contract that is repeatedly renewed for work that is genuinely permanent can be reclassified, so that the worker is treated as a permanent employee with the unfair-dismissal protection that brings. An EOR therefore reserves fixed-term contracts for engagements with a real end date, and that restraint keeps the reclassification question from ever reaching you. For permanent roles it issues a standard open-ended contract of service.

There is no statutory 13th-month salary in Malaysia. A year-end bonus, often one month of pay and sometimes framed as a contractual or discretionary bonus, is customary across much of the private sector and many candidates expect it, but it is not mandated by the Employment Act. If you offer one, write it into the contract as either guaranteed or performance-linked so the basis is unambiguous; the EOR will pay it through payroll and apply EPF, SOCSO and PCB to it like any other wage. Allowances such as transport or phone are similarly contractual and, where fixed, count toward EPF wages.

Division of responsibility

What the EOR handles, and what stays with you

Confirm who remits pension contributions and tax.

Employer of record in Malaysia diagram showing the service agreement, employment contract, and day-to-day collaboration between your company and the employee.
Employer of record in Malaysia: how your company, the local employer and the employee work together. Select the image to enlarge.

The EOR handles

1
Employer-of-record status itself, with every statutory obligation that attaches to its Malaysian entity
2
EPF, SOCSO and EIS registration and monthly remittance by the 15th
3
PCB income-tax withholding and the annual EA form
4
The HRD Corp levy where the employer threshold is met
5
The local contract of service, in English or bilingual
6
Statutory leave administration and the payslip
7
Compliant offboarding, notice and the documented termination case

You keep

1
The work: what gets built, to what standard, on what schedule
2
The pay decision: salary, any year-end bonus, allowances
3
Offer decisions and exit decisions
4
Performance management, and the documentation an Industrial Court challenge would test
5
Laptops and tooling (Rippling device management is a separate paid product)
6
The commercial relationship, and the IP assignment terms the Malaysian contract should carry

Engaging a Malaysian worker as an independent contractor when they work fixed hours under your direction can lead the courts to deem them an employee, which exposes you to unpaid EPF and SOCSO, back PCB, and penalties. An employment arrangement that meets local requirements can change how the worker is engaged from then on. It does not settle earlier classification liabilities, and the staffing model and any immigration route require their own assessment. See the misclassification guide for the tests Malaysian courts apply.

Work permits

Employment Pass thresholds

Check the salary floor for the relevant pass.

Malaysia raised every Employment Pass salary floor effective 1 June 2026 following Cabinet approval on 17 October 2025.

Category Minimum salary (from 1 Jun 2026) Max duration Dependants Previous threshold
Category
EP Category I
Minimum salary (from 1 Jun 2026)
RM20,000/month
Max duration
Up to 10 years
Dependants
Allowed
Previous threshold
was RM10,000
Category
EP Category II
Minimum salary (from 1 Jun 2026)
RM10,000–19,999/month
Max duration
Up to 10 years (with succession plan)
Dependants
Allowed
Previous threshold
was RM5,000–9,999
Category
EP Category III
Minimum salary (from 1 Jun 2026)
RM5,000–9,999/month
Max duration
Up to 5 years (with succession plan)
Dependants
Not allowed
Previous threshold
was RM3,000–4,999

Fig. 8 · Employment Pass categories and salary floors · in force from 1 June 2026, with the prior thresholds shown for reference

The Employment Pass is employer-sponsored, so the EOR’s Malaysian entity must hold the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) registration to sponsor it. Applications run through ESD Online or MyXpats, with processing of roughly one to two weeks plus the dependant pass (DP10) and endorsement step. A foreign-worker quota and levy applies to certain lower-skilled roles, and foreign workers must carry SPIKPA hospitalisation insurance. The new salary policy applies to all new and renewal EP applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026, so a hire that qualified for Category III at RM3,500 last year now needs RM5,000 to renew.

Salary benchmarks

What roles cost in Malaysia, 2026

These national averages cover several experience levels.

These PayScale figures are reported national average annual base salaries in ringgit, with each page’s sample size and last update shown. The monthly column is the annual figure divided by 12 and rounded to the nearest ringgit. These self-reported samples mix locations and experience levels; they are background benchmarks, not Kuala Lumpur offer bands. Bonuses, commissions and employer contributions are separate.

Role and source Average base pay / year Monthly equivalent Source sample and update
Role and source
Software engineer
Average base pay / year
RM 51,417
Monthly equivalent
RM 4,285
Source sample and update
533 profiles · 6 July 2026
Role and source
Senior software engineer
Average base pay / year
RM 92,978
Monthly equivalent
RM 7,748
Source sample and update
215 profiles · 8 July 2026
Role and source
Accountant
Average base pay / year
RM 47,573
Monthly equivalent
RM 3,964
Source sample and update
299 profiles · 11 June 2026
Role and source
Customer-service representative
Average base pay / year
RM 35,736
Monthly equivalent
RM 2,978
Source sample and update
164 profiles · 30 June 2026
Role and source
Regional sales manager
Average base pay / year
RM 131,601
Monthly equivalent
RM 10,967
Source sample and update
101 profiles · 18 June 2026
Role and source
HR manager
Average base pay / year
RM 84,716
Monthly equivalent
RM 7,060
Source sample and update
340 profiles · 7 July 2026
Role and source
Graphic designer
Average base pay / year
RM 33,020
Monthly equivalent
RM 2,752
Source sample and update
300 profiles · 8 July 2026

Fig. 9 · PayScale Malaysia annual base-pay averages and calculated monthly equivalents · source updates June–July 2026; checked 2 October 2026

Salaries cluster in the Klang Valley (Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Cyberjaya); Penang and Johor run roughly 10 to 20 percent below the capital for the same role. A senior engineer at RM14,500 clears the RM10,000 Category II Employment Pass floor but falls short of the RM20,000 Category I threshold that took effect on 1 June 2026, which matters if the hire is a foreign national.

Fully-loaded cost

What a Malaysian engineer costs per month

Start with RM6,500 in gross monthly pay.

The example compares an illustrative USD 199 monthly fee with a premium plan. For a different salary, estimate employer payroll costs in Malaysia.

Software engineer, Kuala Lumpur Gross base: RM6,500/month
Gross salary RM6,500

EPF employer (12%)

12% band, wages above RM5,000
RM780

SOCSO (1.75%)

Capped on RM6,000 of wages
RM105

EIS (0.2%)

Capped on RM6,000 of wages
RM12

HRD Corp levy (1%)

If employer has ≥10 Malaysian staff in a covered sector
RM65

EOR fee illustration

RemoFirst $199 ≈ RM814
⚠ Trustpilot warning: rating suspended for a breach of its guidelines; fake reviews removed
RM814

Monthly total, cheapest fee

Annual ≈ RM99,312 (about $24,280)
RM8,276

Fig. 10 · Fully-loaded monthly cost, illustrative RM6,500 monthly salary · statutory employer cost RM962, about 14.8 percent on top of gross

Statutory employer cost is RM962, about 14.8 percent on top of gross. At the illustration’s exchange rate, these hypothetical USD monthly service fees change the modelled total: an illustrative USD 499 fee (≈ RM2,041) lands at RM9,503/month (≈ RM114,036/year), and a USD 699 service fee (≈ RM2,859) lands at RM10,321/month (≈ RM123,852/year). The fee, not the statutory load, is the biggest lever on total cost in Malaysia.

EOR vs your own entity

EOR or your own Sdn Bhd: compare costs

Price a local company over the same hiring period.

Factor EOR Your own Sdn Bhd
Factor
Setup cost
EOR
None
Your own Sdn Bhd
SSM incorporation, secretarial and adviser fees
Factor
Time to first hire
EOR
2–14 days
Your own Sdn Bhd
SSM incorporation, then bank, EPF, SOCSO and LHDN accounts before payroll can run
Factor
Per-employee cost
EOR
$199–699/employee/mo fee + statutory
Your own Sdn Bhd
Statutory only, plus shared overhead
Factor
Ongoing admin
EOR
Provider runs payroll & filings
Your own Sdn Bhd
Company secretary, annual audit, your own payroll & PCB
Factor
Compliance liability
EOR
On the EOR
Your own Sdn Bhd
On you and your directors

Fig. 11 · Illustrative EOR-versus-entity comparison; the crossover depends on the fee plan, local operating costs and hiring duration.

At the illustration’s exchange rate, a hypothetical USD 199 monthly service fee is about RM9,800 a year per employee. This is only the service-fee component, not the complete cost difference from employing through your own entity. The audit, the company secretary and in-house payroll make a Sdn Bhd’s real cost annual rather than up-front: fixed overhead that runs whether you employ one person or twenty, plus compliance liability sitting on the directors. Obtain current administration and payroll quotes: some entity costs are fixed, while others change with headcount and service scope.

Annualise the selected service fee for the hires you expect to keep, then compare it with the SdnBhd setup, company secretary, accounting and payroll/contribution administration. Count setup costs over the same hiring horizon and include payroll, benefits, transition and exit charges on both sides. A higher service-fee plan moves the financial crossover earlier; lower recurring entity overhead or a longer hiring horizon can do the same. Short hiring duration, setup costs and the need for local administration can move it later.

FAQ

EOR in Malaysia: common questions

What is the best EOR in Malaysia?

RemotePeople is our top pick for Malaysia in 2026 (4.9/5), followed by Multiplier (4.1/5) and Deel (4.7/5). We opened paid accounts with all 10 providers on this page, priced real hires and ran payroll.

RemotePeople offers recruitment and EOR through one provider, with a dedicated account manager on both EOR plans. Its EOR Global plan starts at USD 499 per employee per month, and EOR Select at USD 199 where the hire qualifies. Multiplier Core starts at $499 per employee per month on monthly billing, or $459 billed annually; Deel starts at USD 599 plus a mandatory Employer Liability Cost.

How does an employer of record work in Malaysia?

An employer of record in Malaysia becomes the worker’s legal employer through a local employing entity, while your company directs the day-to-day work. The EOR registers the employee for EPF, SOCSO and EIS and remits contributions by the 15th of each month, withholds PCB income tax and issues the annual EA form, and pays the HRD Corp levy where the employer threshold is met.

How fast can an EOR onboard an employee in Malaysia?

Estimated onboarding times for Malaysia range from 2 to 14 days across the providers we tested that give an estimate. By provider: Deel 2–5 days, Rippling 2–5 days, G-P 2–5 days, RemotePeople 5–8 days and Oyster 10–14 days.

Agree contract signing, the employee’s start date and first payroll separately. Partner checks and any Employment Pass application can affect the schedule; ask the legal employer for a written plan for your hire.

How much does an EOR cost in Malaysia per month?

Published service fees for Malaysia run from USD 199 to USD 699 per employee per month across the 10 providers we tested: RemoFirst from USD 199; RemotePeople Global from USD 499, or Select from USD 199 only where country and salary qualify; Deel from USD 599 plus mandatory Employer Liability Cost; G-P from USD 599; Oyster USD 699 on monthly billing, with annual seats quoted separately. Multiplier Core advertises $499 monthly or $459 per month billed annually; Pebl advertises $399, with currency and commitment to confirm. Rippling starts at USD 499 plus its required platform from USD 8 per employee, and Papaya Global at USD 499. Borderless AI is USD 579 standard, with an eligible USD 399 promotion on fees billed through 31 December 2026. All amounts are per employee/month; salary and employment costs are separate. 

On top of the fee you pay the employee’s gross salary plus roughly 14 to 16 percent in employer EPF, SOCSO, EIS and HRDF contributions.

What employer contributions are mandatory in Malaysia?

EPF (employer 13 percent for monthly wages at or below RM5,000, 12 percent above), SOCSO at 1.75 percent and EIS at 0.2 percent, both capped at RM6,000 of wages, and the HRD Corp levy at 1 percent for employers with ten or more Malaysian employees in covered sectors. The combined employer load is about 14 to 16 percent of gross.

Can an EOR sponsor an Employment Pass in Malaysia?

From 1 June 2026 the Category I salary floor is RM20,000, Category II is RM10,000 to RM19,999, and Category III is RM5,000 to RM9,999.

What is the minimum wage in Malaysia in 2026?

RM1,700 per month for employees covered by Malaysia’s Minimum Wages Order 2024. The rate has applied to covered employers of all sizes since 1 August 2025 and remains the national monthly minimum in 2026. Check any separate Employment Pass salary requirement for a foreign hire.

How much notice and severance applies when terminating in Malaysia?

Notice follows the written contract’s equal terms, with the statutory four-, six- or eight-week fallback and redundancy floor where applicable. Termination benefits have separate service, wage and occupational-coverage tests. The RM8,000 example assumes an excluded non-manual role whose contract grants 15 days per year.

What currency and payroll cycle does Malaysia use?

The Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM). Payroll runs monthly and salaries are paid by the seventh of the following month under the Employment Act. EPF, SOCSO, EIS and HRDF contributions and PCB income-tax withholding are all remitted by the fifteenth of the following month. About RM4.1 equals one US dollar at the July 2026 exchange rate.

Can I convert a Malaysian contractor to an EOR employee?

Yes. An EOR can employ the worker going forward. Earlier liabilities still need review. A Malaysian contractor who works fixed hours under your direction can be deemed an employee, exposing you to back EPF, SOCSO and PCB plus penalties. An EOR issues a compliant local contract, enrols the worker in EPF and SOCSO, and runs PCB withholding, usually within a week.

Do I need a Sdn Bhd to hire one person in Malaysia?

No. An EOR employs the worker on its Malaysian entity, so you hire without incorporating a Sendirian Berhad or carrying its audit, secretarial and payroll filings.

Annualise the selected service fee for the hires you expect to keep, then compare it with the SdnBhd setup, company secretary, accounting and payroll/contribution administration.

Is HRDF levy charged on every Malaysian hire?

Only when the employer has ten or more Malaysian employees in a covered sector, which includes manufacturing, services and mining and quarrying. The levy is 1 percent of monthly wages, or 0.5 percent for employers with five to nine staff who register voluntarily. An EOR with many Malaysian employees will typically apply the 1 percent levy to your hire.

Sources and as-of dates

Article references

Four of the numbers on this page changed between October 2024 and June 2026: the SOCSO wage ceiling, the minimum wage, the foreign-worker EPF rate and every Employment Pass salary floor. Check the as-of date before you reuse a figure. All rates as of June 2026.

Hiring facts Checked 2 Oct 2026

Hiring facts

Checked 2 October 2026
Eligibility, local and collective rules apply. EOR fees extra.

Employment Act 1955 4 sources

Employment Act 1955, as amended from 1 January 2023, covering Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan: ordinary hours are generally limited to 45 per week; sections 60D–60FA address holidays and leave, and section 12 addresses notice. Statutory exceptions and the First Schedule apply.

Employment (Termination and Lay-Off Benefits) Regulations 1980 3 sources

Eligible employees with at least 12 months’ continuous service receive at least 10 days’ wages per year for service under two years, 15 days for two to under five years, and 20 days for five years or more, with incomplete years prorated. Eligibility exclusions apply; statutory termination benefits generally exclude non-manual employees earning above RM4,000 per month.

EPF / KWSP 2 sources

For Malaysian employees under 60, the standard employer rate is 13% on wages up to RM5,000 and 12% above RM5,000; the employee rate is 11%, subject to the statutory contribution table. From October 2025 wages, most non-Malaysian employees and their employers each contribute 2%; permanent residents, pre-August 1998 members and other excluded categories follow different rules.

SOCSO / PERKESO 5 sources

For eligible first-category employees, the Employment Injury and Invalidity schemes use scheduled contributions equivalent to about 1.75% from employers and 0.5% from employees. EIS is 0.2% each for eligible Malaysian citizens and permanent residents. The contribution wage ceiling is RM6,000 from October 2024. The separate LINDUNG 24 JAM scheme adds an employee-funded 0.75% in its first phase: participation is voluntary for local employees and mandatory for covered foreign workers.

HRD Corp (HRDF) 1 source

For employers in activities covered by the PSMB Act 2001, registration is compulsory with 10 or more Malaysian employees and the monthly HRD levy is 1% of applicable wages. Employers with five to nine Malaysian employees may register voluntarily at 0.5%; check the covered activity and statutory wage definition.

Minimum wage 1 source

The Minimum Wages Order 2024 sets RM1,700 per month from 1 February 2025 for employers with at least five employees and employers conducting classified professional activities, regardless of headcount. The deferred group moved to RM1,700 on 1 August 2025. Domestic servants are excluded.

Employment Pass thresholds 1 source

The revised Employment Pass salary policy took effect on 1 June 2026 following Cabinet approval on 17 October 2025. Monthly thresholds are Category I: RM20,000 and above; Category II: RM10,000–19,999; and Category III: RM5,000–9,999. Approval and other category conditions still apply.

Income tax (PCB/MTD) 3 sources

Resident individuals are taxed at progressive rates up to 30%; non-resident employment income is generally taxed at 30%, subject to applicable exemptions. Linked periods and other tests in section 7 can establish resident status even after fewer than 182 days in Malaysia.

Salary benchmarks 7 sources

Each role links to the relevant PayScale Malaysia salary page and its sample/update paragraph. The table uses reported average annual base pay; monthly equivalents are annual pay divided by 12. Source updates range from June to July 2026. The separate RM6,500 monthly cost example is a hypothetical salary assumption.

Provider pricing, entity model and onboarding 10 sources

Further sources, October 2026 4 sources

Employment Act 1955, updated text as at 1 January 2023 — First Schedule occupational exceptions; section 12 notice; sections 60E/60F leave; territorial scope. Accessed 19 October 2026.

KWSP non-Malaysian employee contributions — 2% expansion from October 2025; PR and pre-August 1998 member exceptions; age categories; rounding. Accessed 19 October 2026.

HASiL individual residence tests — Section 7 linked periods and alternative residence tests; page updated August 2026. Accessed 19 October 2026.

PERKESO contribution rates — Scheduled contribution tables and RM6,000 ceiling. Accessed 19 October 2026.

To expand your shortlist, browse EOR providers for Malaysia. Once you have proposals, enter the recurring amounts in USD in the EOR cost calculator. The country guides cover other hiring markets.

This guide is for general information only and does not provide legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. For advice about your business, consult a qualified professional familiar with the rules where you hire. The research methodology explains how TheBestEOR assesses sources.