How Many Hours Per Week is Part-Time in Malaysia

Hiring part-time staff is common in retail, F&B, and service jobs, but how many hours can they actually work? Find the answer about Malaysian part-time working hours, overtime, and legal compliance in this article

What Is Considered a Part-Time Employee in Malaysia

Under the Employment (Part-Time Employees) Regulations 2010, a part-time employee is someone who:

Works between 30% to 70% of the normal hours of a full-time employee in the same role.
Works up to 31.5 hours per week, assuming a full-time employee works 45 hours.
Earns wages not exceeding RM2,000 per month (for coverage under the Employment Act).

Casual workers (who work occasionally or irregularly) and home-based workers (those working from their residence) are not classified as part-time employees under the regulations.

Examples of part-time roles are retail staff, waiters, cashiers, tutors, delivery assistants, and event crew.

How Many Hours Per Week Is Part Time?

A normal full-time employee in Malaysia typically works 45 hours per week, usually 8 hours a day over 5 to 6 days. Therefore, a part-time employee’s total working hours cannot exceed 70% of that total, or 31.5 hours per week.

State the total weekly hours clearly in the employment contract, including shift patterns and rest days. This ensures compliance and protects both employer and employee from disputes.

For example, if your business operates on a 6-day schedule of 7.5 hours per day, a part-time employee can work up to about 4 to 4.5 days per week, depending on role and agreement.

How Many Hours Per Week Is Part Time During Festive Seasons?

During festive or peak seasons (e.g., Ramadan, Chinese New Year, or Hari Raya sales), employers often need additional part-time manpower.

You may schedule part-time employees for extra shifts, but the total must still comply with the weekly maximum limit (31.5 hours). If employees work beyond that limit, the additional hours are considered overtime and must be compensated accordingly.

Employers can also hire temporary full-time or seasonal workers on separate short-term contracts to handle extended hours legally.

Overtime Rules for Part-Time Employees

Part-time employees are entitled to overtime pay when they work beyond their agreed hours.

Under Regulation 5 of the 2010 Regulations:

If part-timers work beyond their normal hours but below the normal full-time hours, they must be paid at least their normal hourly rate.
If they exceed the normal full-time hours, they must be paid 1.5 times their hourly rate.

Example: If your full-time staff works 8 hours per day and your part-timer works 6 hours, any hours between 6 and 8 are paid at the normal rate, while hours beyond 8 are paid at 1.5 times overtime.

Failing to pay proper overtime is an offence under the Employment Act, punishable by a fine up to RM10,000.

Does Part Time Have Rest Days and Public Holidays?

Yes, part-time employees are entitled to rest days and paid public holidays just like full-time staff, but on a pro-rated basis.

Rest Days

A part-time employee must receive one rest day per week if they work:

At least five days per week
For 20 hours or more in total per week.

If they work on their rest day, they must be paid at least twice their ordinary daily wage.

Public Holidays

Part-time employees are entitled to at least seven paid public holidays per year, including:

National Day
The King’s Birthday
The State Ruler or Federal Territory Day
Worker’s Day

If required to work on a paid public holiday, they must be paid two days’ wages in addition to the holiday pay.

Adjusting Working Hours for Employee Needs or Special Situations

Employers should also be flexible when part-time staff face personal or family-related matters such as:

Religious observances (e.g., Friday prayers, Ramadan breaks)
Childcare or caregiving responsibilities
Transportation or health issues

Reasonable adjustments could include:

Shifting start or end times
Allowing longer breaks between shifts
Offering alternate workdays

As long as the total weekly hours remain within 31.5 hours, employers can modify schedules without breaching compliance.

Such flexibility builds loyalty and reduces absenteeism among part-timers.

Common Myths About Part-Time Working Hours

Many Malaysian employers still misunderstand what counts as “working hours” or which benefits part-timers are entitled to. Let’s clear up a few common myths about part-time work and what the law actually says.

Myth 1: Lunch breaks count as working hours

False. Only active working time counts. Breaks and meal times are excluded unless the employee is required to remain on duty.

Myth 2: Part-time employees don’t receive benefits

False. Under the 2010 Regulations, part-timers are entitled to pro-rated annual leave, sick leave, and public holiday pay based on their service period.

Myth 3: Employers can freely change schedules anytime

False. Work schedules must follow the agreed terms in the employment contract. Any change should be communicated in advance and mutually agreed upon.

Myth 4: Overtime doesn’t apply to part-time employees

False. Overtime pay applies if they work beyond their agreed normal hours or exceed the equivalent full-time limit.

FAQs

1. What’s the maximum working hour limit for part-time employees in Malaysia?

A part-time employee cannot work more than 31.5 hours per week, or 70% of a normal 45-hour work week.

2. Do part-time employees get paid leave?

Yes. They are entitled to annual leave, sick leave, rest days, and public holidays, calculated proportionately based on their total hours and length of service.

3. Can part-time staff work overtime?

Yes. Overtime is allowed if agreed, but employers must pay according to legal rates, 1 times for extra hours up to full-time limits, and 1.5 times beyond.

4. Can employers schedule part-time workers for extra hours during festive seasons?

Yes, but total hours per week must still not exceed 31.5 hours unless they are converted to temporary full-time or paid overtime.

5. Do lunch or rest breaks count as working hours?

No. Only active working hours are counted under the Employment Act.

Hire Reliable Part-Time Staff Today

Connect with Malaysia’s top part-time talent on AJobThing, trusted by thousands of employers.

Post your job ads now and start hiring smarter, faster!