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APAC • Country Guide

HIRE IN
MALAYSIA

Cost-effective ASEAN hub with English-speaking talent.

EOR pricing
RM2,580
per employee / month (~US$549)
  • Full compliance handled
  • First hire live in 48 hours
  • No entity setup needed
Capital
Kuala Lumpur
Population
34M
Currency
MYR (RM)
Language
Malay, English, Mandarin, Tamil
Time zone
GMT+8
Region
APAC
Country snapshot

WHY MALAYSIA?

Malaysia is the strategic alternative to Singapore, 60% lower cost of living, fluent English workforce, and a strong manufacturing and shared-services ecosystem. Major MNCs base regional functions here.

60% lower operating costs vs Singapore
Skilled English-speaking workforce
MSC Malaysia tech incentives
Gateway to Muslim-majority markets
Strong IP protection
READY TO HIRE

Your first Malaysia hire, live in days.

We handle entity, payroll, tax and compliance so you can focus on the work.

Market intel

THE MARKET
THE TALENT

Economy

USD $415B GDP, upper-middle income. Diversified across electronics, palm oil, finance, and tourism.

Talent pool

Strong English proficiency, multilingual workforce, robust shared-services and BPO industry. Engineering grads from KL and Penang.

Key industries
Electronics & SemiconductorsShared ServicesIslamic FinancePalm Oil & AgribusinessTourism
Hiring & compliance

CORE HIRING
FACTS

Everything global operators need to know about employment costs, leave entitlements, and statutory rules in Malaysia.

Employer cost on top of salary
13–15%
Income tax
0–30% progressive
Social contributions
EPF 13% + SOCSO 1.75% + EIS 0.2%
Minimum wage
MYR 1,500/month
Working hours
45 hours/week
Annual leave
8–16 days (by tenure)
Sick leave
14–22 days/year (by tenure)
Maternity leave
98 days paid
Paternity leave
7 days paid
Public holidays
11 days/year
Notice period
4–8 weeks (by tenure)
Probation
Typically 3–6 months
Severance
10–20 days/year of service for redundancy
Payroll cycle
Monthly
13th month pay
Common contractual bonus
COMPLIANCE, HANDLED

Skip the legal setup in Malaysia.

We become the legal employer. You manage the work, we handle payroll, contracts, taxes and benefits.

Visa & immigration

MOVING
TALENT IN

Work visa types, eligibility, dependent visas, and the path to permanent residency in Malaysia.

Employment Pass

4–6 weeks

For professionals earning MYR 5,000+/month

DE Rantau Nomad Pass

4 weeks

For digital professionals, valid up to 12 months

MM2H Visa

8–12 weeks

Long-term residence for qualifying applicants

Eligibility

Degree + 3+ years experience, salary thresholds, and approved employer sponsorship.

Dependants

Spouse and unmarried children under 18 eligible for Dependant Pass.

Path to PR

PR after 5+ years of residency, with strong economic contribution. Citizenship rare and discretionary.

More in APAC

EXPAND THE REGION

All countries

Singapore

Asia-Pacific's most business-friendly hub.

Read guide

India

The world's largest tech and engineering talent market.

Read guide

Philippines

World leader in BPO, customer support, and English-fluent talent.

Read guide
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Ready to hire in Malaysia?

START IN
48 HOURS.

We'll handle the legal entity, payroll, tax, and compliance. You focus on the work.