The payslip is out, but the OT hours look short. Many factory workers are unsure how much they should be paid for overtime, Sunday work or working on a public holiday. This article explains the basics of the Employment Act 1955 in plain words. It is general information, not legal advice.
Rechecked 30 Oct 2026. The rates below are the minimums under the Employment Act 1955 (Peninsular Malaysia). Your contract or company may give more, never less.
How many normal hours a week?
The government portal malaysia.gov.my states that employees are entitled to normal working hours of not more than 45 hours a week under the Employment Act 1955. The old limit was 48. The amendments took effect on 1 January 2023 (DLA Piper reports the date was deferred from 1 September 2022).
The same portal says Sabah and Sarawak have their own labour ordinances, also amended to 45 hours. A Sabahan or Sarawakian working in a Johor factory is under the same Employment Act as other workers in Peninsular Malaysia.
Who is covered for OT pay?
Since 1 January 2023 the old RM2,000 wage limit for the Act has been removed. However, according to Rahmat Lim & Partners, some provisions still do not apply to employees earning more than RM4,000 a month. These include rest-day overtime pay, public-holiday pay and shift allowances.
The exception: employees in certain First Schedule categories, such as manual labourers, supervisors of manual labourers and operators of motor vehicles, stay covered regardless of wages. DLA Piper gives the same picture.
The RM4,000 threshold is also mentioned by KC Group and Tools for Transformation. Sources differ on public holiday pay, though: AJobThing says public holiday entitlements apply regardless of salary. If you earn over RM4,000, ask JTK. In practice, most factory operators earning under RM4,000 are covered. If you are unsure about your job category, ask JTK.
Foreign workers? The sources we checked describe coverage by wage and type of work, not nationality. We did not find a nationality condition. For your own case, ask JTK directly.
OT rates: normal day, rest day, public holiday
The normal-day rate (section 60A(3)(a)) and public-holiday rates (section 60D(3)) are confirmed from the Act text as reproduced by Low & Partners. The rest-day rate is confirmed only through payroll guides (Talenox, AltHR, KC Group, AJobThing); we could not open the text of section 60 of the Act itself.
| Situation | Minimum rate | |---|---| | Normal day, hours beyond normal hours | 1.5 times the hourly rate | | Rest day, hours beyond normal hours | 2 times the hourly rate | | Public holiday, hours beyond normal hours | 3 times the hourly rate |
Work on a rest day or public holiday within normal hours is calculated differently depending on how you are paid (monthly, daily or hourly). For example, public-holiday work within normal hours earns two additional days' wages at the ordinary rate (section 60D(3)(a)(i) of the Act). For a rest day within normal hours, a payroll guide (KC Group) says half a day's wage if you work no more than half the normal hours, and one day's wage if more than half; this is not from the Act text we opened, so confirm with JTK. The full calculation has layers, so check with JTK if the amount looks odd.
Hourly rate (section 60I of the Act): divide monthly salary by 26 for the daily rate, then divide by normal hours per day.
Example: RM2,600 salary, 8-hour day. Daily rate RM100, hourly rate RM12.50. One hour of normal-day OT = RM12.50 x 1.5 = RM18.75.
AltHR and KC Group also mention an OT limit of 104 hours a month under the Employment (Limitation of Overtime Work) Regulations 1980. We did not open the regulations themselves.
How to keep records
Your own records help a lot in a dispute.
- Note every day: date, in and out time, OT hours. A small notebook or phone note is fine.
- Photo of the time card or shift schedule when possible.
- Keep all payslips and bank statements showing salary received.
- Keep a copy of your contract or offer letter.
- Check the slip: compare the OT hours you noted with the payslip.
For other items on the slip, read payslip deductions for foreign workers: EPF, SOCSO and Lindung 24 Jam.
What to do & who to call
| Situation | Action | |---|---| | OT or public-holiday pay looks short on the slip | Recalculate with your own records, then ask payroll in writing | | Employer does not reply or refuses to correct | File a complaint with the Labour Department (JTK) Johor Bahru; see our JTK complaint guide | | Not sure if you are covered | Ask JTK with your pay and job type | | Need extra help | See the list of NGOs and support organisations |
Phone numbers and office addresses are in the JTK guide above. Check the official JTKSM site for current details.
Common mistakes
- Not keeping a record of hours. In a dispute, you only have a story, not proof.
- Assuming all OT is 1.5 times. Rest days and public holidays have other rates.
- Accepting "OT included in basic pay" without checking the contract. Check what is written.
- Being afraid to ask. Ask politely, in writing, first.
- Following WhatsApp advice without checking an official source.
Related: minimum wage RM1,700 and worker rights , going-home holiday calendar for Sabah and Sarawak 2026 and Deepavali 8-9 November 2026: replacement day and pay.
Looking for a room in Senai?
If you are looking for a worker room near your factory in Senai, see our current rooms and pricing or WhatsApp +60 12-708 8789 (https://wa.me/60127088789) to check availability.
FAQ
How many normal working hours a week? The malaysia.gov.my portal states not more than 45 hours a week under the Employment Act 1955.
What is the OT rate on a normal day? At least 1.5 times the hourly rate for hours beyond normal hours (Talenox, AltHR).
What are the OT rates on a rest day and public holiday? For hours beyond normal hours: 2 times on a rest day and 3 times on a public holiday. Work within normal hours is calculated differently.
Is everyone covered? The old wage limit was removed in 2023, but rest-day and public-holiday OT pay still do not apply to employees earning over RM4,000 a month, except categories such as manual labourers.
What is the monthly OT limit? Payroll guides (AltHR, KC Group) cite 104 hours a month under the Employment (Limitation of Overtime Work) Regulations 1980. We did not open the regulations, so ask JTK about shift work or exemptions.
How is the hourly rate calculated? Monthly salary divided by 26 gives the daily rate, then divide by normal hours per day (section 60I of the Act). Example: RM2,600 and 8 hours a day = RM12.50 an hour.
What if I work a public holiday within normal hours? Two days' wages at the ordinary rate on top of holiday pay (section 60D(3)(a)(i)). See also our Deepavali article.
Where do I complain if OT is not paid? The Labour Department (JTK). See our JTK Johor Bahru complaint guide.
Sumber / Sources
- malaysia.gov.my, Employment Act 1955 (Amendment) 2022 and labour law
- Rahmat Lim & Partners, All employees irrespective of wages to be covered under amended Employment Act 1955 from 1 January 2023
- DLA Piper, Changes to the Employment Act 1955
- Talenox, Overtime Rates (Malaysia)
- AltHR, How to Calculate Overtime Pay for Employees in Malaysia
- Low & Partners, Employment Act 1955 (text of sections 60A, 60D, 60I)
- KC Group, Overtime pay Malaysia 2026
- Tools for Transformation, Definition and legal background of wages and working hours
- AJobThing, Overtime calculation for shift workers
- AJobThing, Public holiday pay 2026
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