Minimum age to work in Malaysia?

The Minimum Age of Employee

• In Sabah, an employer is prohibited from employing a child under 14 years to work in construction, manufacturing, transportation, mining sector or other places such as restaurants, coffee shops, bars, hotels or offices.

• In Sarawak, no young person under the age of 16 years shall be employed on underground work in any time.

• In Peninsular Malaysia, under the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 (Act 350), children under the age of 14 years are

  • only allow to work between 7 AM until 8 PM

  • not allow to work for 3 consecutive hours without a period of rest. Period of rest shall be at least 30 minutes

  • not allow to work more than 6 hours a day. If attending school, total working and schooling hours shall not be more than 7 hours a day

• and can only be designated by the employer to carry out

• • light activities in family business or other jobs authorized by the government

• children between the age of 14 and 16 years are

  • only allow to work between 7 AM until 8 PM

  • not allow to work for 4 consecutive hours without a period of rest. Period of rest shall be at least 30 minutes

  • not allow to work for more than 7 hours. If attending school, total working and schooling hours shall not be more than 8 hours a day

  • not allow to commence work with less than 12 rest hours a day

• and can only be designated by employer to

• • carry out light activities which are reasonably believed to be in accordance to their abilities

  • be a domestic servant or maid

  • work in an appropriate industry

  • engaged in any capacity in any vessel under the guardians of their parents.

• An employer who fails to comply with the above has committed an offence under the Act and the penalty upon conviction shall be a fine up to RM2,000 or jail term not exceeding 6 months or both.