Resources

A Complete Guide to Hospitalization Leave in Malaysia (2025)

Imagine receiving news from your doctor that you need surgery, which will require a week in the hospital and several more for recovery. Beyond the health concerns, a new worry might surface: “What happens to my job and my salary?” Thankfully, Malaysia’s employment laws provide a strong safety net for exactly this situation.

This protection is called hospitalization leave. It is a critical legal entitlement that ensures you can recover from serious medical conditions without facing financial hardship. However, many employees and even some employers are unclear about how it works, especially how it differs from regular sick leave.

This guide will provide a clear, comprehensive explanation of hospitalization leave in Malaysia. We will cover your legal entitlements, the correct application procedures, and answer the most common questions to ensure you are fully informed.

What is Hospitalization Leave?

Hospitalization leave is a form of paid medical leave for an employee who is confined to a hospital for treatment. The law also extends this benefit to cover periods where a doctor certifies that an employee, due to their condition, requires bed rest at home either before or after a hospital stay.

The core purpose of this leave is to provide job and income security during serious health crises. It allows you to focus entirely on your recovery, knowing your professional and financial life is protected.

Hospitalization Leave vs. Sick Leave: The Critical Difference

Let’s clear up the biggest source of confusion right away: hospitalization leave and sick leave are not two separate entitlements. You do not get, for example, 14 sick days plus another 60 hospitalization days.

Instead, they are part of a single, combined pool of medical leave. The law simply increases the total number of paid days you can claim if your illness is severe enough to require hospitalization.

• Regular Sick Leave is for short-term, non-critical illnesses like a cold or stomach flu.
• Hospitalization Leave is triggered when that illness becomes serious enough for hospital admission.

Your Legal Entitlement to Hospitalization Leave in Malaysia

The rules governing all forms of medical leave are found in Section 60F of the Employment Act 1955.

How Many Days Do You Get? The 60-Day Rule

Under the Act, an employee is entitled to a total of 60 days of paid sick leave per calendar year if hospitalization is required.

This 60-day cap is an aggregate total. This means it includes any regular, non-hospitalization sick days you have already taken that year.

Let’s look at a practical example:
Sarah is entitled to 22 days of sick leave a year. In February, she takes 4 days of sick leave for dengue fever but is not hospitalized. In August, she has an accident and is hospitalized for 10 days.

Her 10 days of hospitalization are fully paid. So far, she has used a total of 14 days (4 sick days + 10 hospitalization days) from her 60-day aggregate pool. She still has 46 days of paid leave available for the rest of the year if further hospitalization is needed.

Is Hospitalization Leave Paid?

Absolutely. For every day you are on certified hospitalization leave, you are entitled to be paid at your ordinary rate of pay. This includes any rest days or public holidays that fall within your leave period. This is a mandatory legal requirement for all employers whose staff are covered by the Employment Act 1955.

How to Apply for Hospitalization Leave: Key Procedures

Following the correct process is essential for ensuring your leave is recorded properly and your salary is paid correctly.

Step 1: Informing Your Employer

Legally, you must inform your employer of your absence due to illness within 48 hours. In an emergency hospitalization, this should be done as soon as it is practically possible. A call or message to your immediate supervisor or HR department is the first crucial step.

Step 2: Providing Necessary Documents

To validate your absence, you must provide medical proof. This can be a Medical Certificate (MC) or an official letter from the attending doctor or hospital. The documentation should clearly state that hospital admission was necessary. For official records, providing your hospital admission and discharge slips is the best practice.

Common Questions About Hospitalization Leave Answered

What if I Need More Than 60 Days of Leave?

If your recovery extends beyond the 60 paid days, any additional leave is typically considered unpaid. At this point, you should discuss your situation with your employer and explore options like applying for Temporary Disablement Benefits through SOCSO (PERKESO), if you are a contributor.

Can My Employer Terminate Me While I’m Hospitalized?

No employer can legally fire you because you are on certified medical leave. Such an action would likely be deemed unfair dismissal. However, if an illness leads to a very prolonged absence that makes it impossible for you to perform your job, it could eventually frustrate the employment contract. Maintaining open and honest communication with your HR department is vital.

Does it Cover Maternity-Related Hospitalization?

Yes. If you experience pregnancy-related complications that require hospital admission (e.g., before giving birth), this period is covered under your hospitalization leave. This is separate and distinct from your maternity leave, which is allocated for recovery after childbirth.

How Worksy HRMS Simplifies Complex Leave Management

For businesses, tracking the aggregate leave rule manually is prone to error and can create significant compliance risks. This is where an automated system becomes essential.

Accurate Tracking of Aggregate Leave

Worksy HRMS completely removes the guesswork. The system automatically tracks the combined total of sick and hospitalization leave for each employee, ensuring the 60-day statutory limit is managed accurately. This prevents accidental overpayment or underpayment.

Seamless Documentation and Approvals

The Worksy eLeave system features a mobile app that lets employees upload photos of their MCs or hospital documents instantly. This creates a clear, auditable record for every leave application, making the approval process fast and transparent.

Clear Visibility for Everyone

With a user-friendly dashboard, both employees and managers can see up-to-date leave balances at any time. This transparency reduces disputes, minimizes queries to HR, and builds a foundation of trust within the organization.

Conclusion: Your Health and Job are Protected

Hospitalization leave is a fundamental pillar of employee protection in Malaysia. It guarantees that you can receive up to 60 days of paid leave (combined with any sick leave taken) to recover from serious health conditions without jeopardizing your income.

For employees, understanding your rights and following procedures is key. For employers, the responsibility is to manage this leave compliantly and with compassion. Using a robust HR system ensures that the administrative side is handled flawlessly, allowing you to focus on supporting your team member.

Take the complexity out of Malaysian leave management. Learn how Worksy can automate your policies to ensure accuracy and peace of mind.