What is the overtime rate in Malaysia?

Under Employment Act 1955, overtime rates are: 1.5x hourly rate for normal working days, 2x for rest days (first 8 hours) then 3x, and 3x for public holidays. The hourly rate is calculated as: Monthly salary / 26 / Normal working hours.

How is overtime calculated in Malaysia?

OT Formula: (Monthly salary ÷ 26 ÷ Normal hours) × OT hours × OT rate. For RM3,000 salary, 8-hour day: Hourly rate = 3000/26/8 = RM14.42. Normal day OT = RM14.42 × 1.5 = RM21.63 per hour.

What is the maximum overtime hours allowed in Malaysia?

Under Employment Act 1955, maximum overtime is 104 hours per month. Total working hours (normal + OT) should not exceed 12 hours per day. Exceeding these limits requires approval from the Labour Department.

Is overtime mandatory for employees in Malaysia?

Employers cannot force overtime as a condition of employment. However, reasonable overtime requests can be made. Employees have the right to refuse excessive or unreasonable overtime demands.

Who is entitled to overtime pay in Malaysia?

Under EA 1955, overtime pay applies to employees earning RM4,000 or less per month, or manual workers regardless of salary. Employees earning above RM4,000 are governed by their employment contract for OT.

What is the OT rate for working on rest day in Malaysia?

Rest day OT rates: First 8 hours = 2x hourly rate. Hours exceeding 8 = 3x hourly rate. If the rest day work is at employer's request, these rates apply. If at employee's request, rates may differ.

What is the OT rate for public holiday in Malaysia?

Public holiday work pays 3x the hourly rate for all hours worked, in addition to the normal day's pay. So effectively, employees receive 4x their normal daily wage for working on a public holiday.

How to calculate hourly rate for overtime in Malaysia?

Hourly rate = Monthly salary ÷ 26 days ÷ Normal working hours per day. For example: RM3,000 ÷ 26 ÷ 8 hours = RM14.42/hour. This is the base rate before applying OT multipliers.

Can overtime be paid as time-off instead of money?

The Employment Act 1955 requires overtime to be compensated in money. Time-off in lieu (TOIL) instead of OT payment is not compliant with EA 1955 for covered employees, though some contracts may allow it for non-EA employees.

When must overtime pay be paid in Malaysia?

Overtime must be paid with the regular salary payment, typically by the 7th day of the following month. Delayed OT payment is a violation of the Employment Act 1955.

Malaysia-compliant guide

Overtime Calculator Malaysia

Calculate OT pay accurately based on Employment Act 1955

Direct answer

Overtime rates in Malaysia under Employment Act 1955 are: 1.5x hourly rate for normal working days, 2x for rest days (first 8 hours), 3x for rest days (beyond 8 hours) and public holidays. The hourly rate formula is: Monthly salary ÷ 26 days ÷ Normal working hours. Maximum OT is 104 hours per month.

Overtime (kerja lebih masa) compensation in Malaysia is governed by Section 60A of the Employment Act 1955. Employers must pay premium rates for work beyond normal working hours (45 hours/week max). Understanding OT calculations ensures fair compensation for employees and legal compliance for employers.

Key facts

High-signal points for buyers comparing options.

Legal Basis

Employment Act 1955, Section 60A

Normal Day OT Rate

1.5x hourly rate

Rest Day OT Rate

2x (≤8hrs) / 3x (>8hrs)

Public Holiday OT

3x hourly rate

Max Weekly Hours

45 hours (normal)

Max Daily Hours

12 hours (including OT)

Calculate OT accurately using official EA 1955 rates

Understand different rate multipliers for each day type

Ensure employer compliance with OT regulations

Know your rights as an employee

Platform

What HavaHR brings together

Payroll, people operations, statutory calculations and HR documents in one workflow built for Malaysian SMEs.

Automatic hourly rate calculation

Multiple OT rate multipliers (1.5x, 2x, 3x)

Rest day and public holiday calculations

Monthly OT limit tracking (104 hours)

Integration with payroll processing

OT approval workflow

Reporting and compliance checks

Mobile clock-in/out for OT tracking

Comparison

Compare the important differences quickly

Day Type	OT Rate	Example (RM14.42/hr base)	Notes
Normal Working Day	1.5x	RM21.63/hr	Beyond 8 hrs or 45 hrs/week
Rest Day (≤8 hrs)	2.0x	RM28.84/hr	First 8 hours of work
Rest Day (>8 hrs)	3.0x	RM43.26/hr	Hours exceeding 8
Public Holiday	3.0x	RM43.26/hr	All hours + normal day pay

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