Who is this for?
Private-sector employees and employers reviewing working hours and overtime.
Jurisdiction and scope
Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan; check the currently applicable Sabah/Sarawak labour ordinances elsewhere.
What does the law and official guidance say?
Maximum ordinary working time: 45 hours
JTKSM lists the reduction from 48 to 45 normal hours per week under the amendments effective 1 January 2023. Schedules, breaks and shift work still depend on specific rules.
Salary above RM4,000: exclusions matter
The official FAQ says workers earning above RM4,000 monthly, except manual workers, are excluded from specified statutory overtime, rest-day, holiday and termination benefits. Check job classification and the contract first.
Check the First Schedule and your contract
Changes to the First Schedule expanded Act coverage. Do not assume an employer may cut salary solely because standard weekly hours were reduced; compare contract terms and official guidance.
Practical first steps
Record actual working time
Keep rosters, clock-in records, payslips and overtime instructions. Distinguish working hours from genuine breaks.
Request a written calculation
For disputed payments, ask HR or the employer for the rate calculation, employee category and statutory or contractual basis.
Consult the Labour Department if unresolved
Take supporting documents to JTKSM or the relevant state labour authority according to where you work.
Important limitations
45 hours does not automatically guarantee OT pay
Overtime and leave entitlements cannot be decided from a single headline number. Examine the First Schedule, work category, salary and contract together.
Not one nationwide labour code
JTKSM describes these amendments for Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. Sabah and Sarawak law must be reviewed separately, including later changes.
Official evidence and references
Each source supports particular statements above. Some dated reprints are older versions, not evidence of every current amendment.
- Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia · FAQ Pindaan 2022
Act 265; First Schedule; official working-hours and eligibility explanation
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