Regional differences

Why the Hiring Route Differs Across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak

Malaysia does not run one national hiring process. Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak each have their own regulator and labour law, so the correct route depends on where the worker will be employed.

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The short answer

The single most common mistake is assuming the Peninsular process applies everywhere. It does not. Sabah and Sarawak each administer non-resident workers through their own labour departments and ordinances, and Sarawak uses its own GENESIS/HAVEN system. The Employment Act 1955 reaches Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, but not Sabah or Sarawak. Use the route for the place of employment, not a generic national one.

At a glance

Peninsular + Labuan: Federal routeImmigration plus the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM); the Employment Act 1955 applies.
Sabah: Own labour systemThe Sabah Labour Department under the Sabah Labour Ordinance; the Employment Act 1955 does not extend here.
Sarawak: GENESIS/HAVENThe Sarawak labour authorities run the state’s own GENESIS/HAVEN portal under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance.

Why one national process does not exist

Immigration control and labour regulation are handled differently across the country. Sabah and Sarawak retain their own labour ordinances and departments, a legacy of how the federation is arranged, so the permit path, the licensing body and the employment law that governs the relationship are not identical to the Peninsular ones.

This is not a formality. The timeline, the portal you use and the rights framework can differ, which is why a checklist written for Kuala Lumpur can quietly mislead a household in Kuching or Kota Kinabalu.

Start from the place of employment

The right question is where the worker will live and work, because that determines the regulator. A Peninsular employer follows the federal route; a Sabah or Sarawak employer confirms the current process with the state labour department or the GENESIS/HAVEN portal directly.

The location guides on this site set out each region separately for that reason. When a rule or figure is quoted, check which region it describes before assuming it applies to yours.

Official and primary sources

Questions this page answers

Is the hiring process the same across Malaysia?

No. Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan share the federal route, while Sabah and Sarawak each run their own labour systems. Use the route for the region of employment.

Does the Employment Act 1955 apply in Sabah and Sarawak?

No. It reaches Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan; Sabah and Sarawak have their own labour ordinances.

What is GENESIS/HAVEN?

It is the Sarawak system used to process foreign workers; check it directly rather than assuming Peninsular steps apply.

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DomesticHelper editorial teamReviewed 17 August 2026Sourced from Malaysian government registriesIndependent of the hiring agenciesEditorial standards