Minimum Wage & Worker Rights in Malaysia: What’s Really Changing in 2025?
April 29, 2025
Closing Malaysia’s Skills Gap: 2025 Update
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s report, our country’s digital economy contributed 23.5 % to GDP (RM 427.7 billion) in 2023 yet employers still struggle to fill roles in cloud, data and AI. The government and industry have responded with a larger-than-ever stack of skills-gap initiatives—from training grants to salary subsidies. Here’s what’s new and how HR teams can cash in.
1. Government Grants Supercharge Up-Skilling:
| Programme | What You Get | HR Impact |
|---|---|---|
| HRD Corp “Growth Academy 2025” | Full levy claims for future-ready courses + statewide bootcamps | Slashes training costs in AI, data & green tech. |
| MyDigitalWorkforce Work-in-Tech (MYWiT) | 40% salary subsidy for six months (min. RM2,000) + up to RM5,000 per head for tech training | Low-risk way to hire fresh digital talent and hit national target of 500,000 digital jobs. |
| New Investment Incentive Framework (Budget 2025) | RM1bil strategic fund + extra tax breaks for talent up-skilling in high-value sectors | Lets firms offset both CAPEX and training on AI projects. |
2. Industry–Academia Tie-Ups Rewire Curricula:
The TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) Council is rolling out micro-credential degrees co-designed with the Malaysian Technical Universities Network (MTUN) and manufacturers to fast-track skills for high-tech production lines.
What HR can do:
- Join university advisory boards to influence new course content.
- Offer capstone projects mirroring your tech stack.
- Use Worksy HR Analytics to match graduate performance data to internal KPIs.
3. Cash Incentives for Hiring & Training Graduates:
| Scheme | Incentive | Application Window |
|---|---|---|
| SOCSO Daya Kerjaya 3.0 | RM600 per hire, monthly, for 3 months—no cap on headcount | 1 Jan – 31 Dec 2025 |
| MYWiT | Up to RM23,000 combined salary + training support per new tech hire | Until allocation is exhausted |
| Budget 2025 Graduate Boost | Extra wage subsidies for AI/robotics roles (details Q3 launch) | From Q3 2025 |
Fast-track workflow:
- Stack subsidies: Pair MYWiT with Daya Kerjaya to drive net salary close to zero.
- Create a 12-month competency roadmap inside Worksy’s Performance Management module.
- Set automated reminders so managers upload progress evidence before each claim cut-off.
How Does Worksy HRMS Keeps You Audit-Ready?
| Module | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Learning & Development | Catalogue claimable courses, issue training bonds, export HRD Corp reports. |
| Performance Management | Tie graduate milestones to subsidy timelines and OKRs. |
| HR Analytics | Track training ROI and skills coverage on one dashboard. |
Action Checklist for HR Leaders:
- Audit current skills-gap initiatives against 2025 growth projects.
- Select the right grant stack (HRD Corp + MYWiT + Daya Kerjaya).
- Secure an industry partnership with a university or TVET.
- Integrate with Worksy HRMS to automate paperwork and prove ROI.
Need An Easier Way to Turn Today’s Grants Into Tomorrow’s Talent?
With Worksy’s cloud HRMS you can line-up courses, file subsidy claims, and track performance—all in one place and it’s fully compliant.
▶️ Book a quick demo and let our Learning & Development, Performance Management, and HR Analytics modules power your 2025 talent plan—so you can hire, grow, and keep the people who’ll drive Malaysia forward.
