Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in Malaysia (2026)
Employees in Malaysia get at least 8 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (1.6 weeks). Sick leave: 14 paid days a year.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
High confidenceYour number
8 days a year (64 hours)
Statutory minimum 8 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
Paid sick leave: 14 days a year (112 hours).
This is the legal floor for Malaysia; the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 8 days | 1.6 weeks |
| After 2 years | 12 days | 2.4 weeks |
| After 5 years | 16 days | 3.2 weeks |
8 days with under 2 years of service, 12 days from 2 years, 16 days from 5 years (Employment Act 1955 s. 60E).
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 8 days a year; after 2 years, 12 days, rising to 16 days after 5 years.
What the rules mean in practice
In Malaysia, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 8 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 1.6 weeks, rising…
In Malaysia, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 8 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 1.6 weeks, rising to 16 days after 5 years of service. The legal wording: 8 days with under 2 years of service, 12 days from 2 years, 16 days from 5 years (Employment Act 1955 s. 60E).
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 3, the same as 0 and lower than 34. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 8 days is about 3.1% of a 260-day working year.
Length of service raises the floor two times: 12 days after 2 years and 16 days after 5 years.
Public holidays are gazetted federally and by each state. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for Malaysia lists 14 holidays, 13 of them on working days.
Sick leave: 14 days with under 2 years, 18 days from 2 years, 22 days from 5 years, plus up to 60 days if hospitalised (s. 60F). LeaveCalc rates this entry High confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Public holidays
Public holidays are gazetted federally and by each state. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for Malaysia, with .ics downloads.
Sources
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in Malaysia
The statutory minimum is 8 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (1.6 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in Malaysia?
The statutory minimum is 8 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (1.6 weeks). 8 days with under 2 years of service, 12 days from 2 years, 16 days from 5 years (Employment Act 1955 s. 60E).
Does annual leave increase with length of service in Malaysia?
Yes. The minimum starts at 8 days a year and steps up with completed years of service: 12 days after 2 years and 16 days after 5 years.
Is sick leave paid in Malaysia?
Yes. The minimum is 14 paid days a year. 14 days with under 2 years, 18 days from 2 years, 22 days from 5 years, plus up to 60 days if hospitalised (s. 60F).
Are public holidays part of annual leave in Malaysia?
Public holidays are gazetted federally and by each state. In 2026 the calendar for Malaysia has 14 public holidays, 13 of them on working days.