All articles
Guides22 Apr 2026·6 min read

What is an Employer of Record (EOR) in Malaysia?

A plain-English guide to how EOR works in Malaysia, when to use one, and how it compares to setting up a Sdn Bhd.

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a local company that legally employs workers on your behalf, so you can hire in a country without setting up your own entity.

How EOR works in Malaysia

When you hire through an EOR like employerofrecord.my, the EOR signs the employment contract with your hire under Malaysian law (the Employment Act 1955). They become the legal employer of record while your team directs the day-to-day work.

The EOR handles:

  • Compliant employment contracts (Bahasa Malaysia / English)
  • Monthly MYR payroll and PCB/MTD tax
  • Statutory contributions: EPF, SOCSO, EIS, HRDF
  • Group medical insurance and benefits
  • Leave administration and HR support
  • Onboarding, offboarding and tax clearance
  • When to use an EOR

    EOR is ideal when you want to:

  • Hire 1–20 employees in Malaysia quickly
  • Test the market before committing to an entity
  • Convert a contractor to a full-time employee
  • Stay fully compliant without building a Malaysian HR/payroll function
  • EOR vs setting up a Sdn Bhd

    Incorporating a Sdn Bhd takes 2–3 months and requires a resident director, company secretary, MYR 1 paid-up capital (in practice more), monthly statutory filings, and ongoing audit. EOR removes all of that — you can be paying your first hire in under a week.

    Bottom line

    If you want to hire compliantly in Malaysia without the legal, tax and HR overhead, EOR is the fastest, lowest-risk path. Talk to us at employerofrecord.my and we'll have your first hire onboarded in days.

    Written by EOR Malaysia Team · employerofrecord.my

    Hire your first Malaysian employee this week.

    Talk to our local team — onboarding in under 5 business days.