Hiring in Penang: the local picture
Penang spans George Town on the island and Seberang Perai on the mainland, linked by bridge and ferry. The Department of Statistics (DOSM) records a population of about 1.8 million for Penang.
Which process applies here
For Penang: Peninsular Malaysia uses the federal route: the Immigration Department issues the permit and the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) licenses the agencies. The Employment Act 1955 applies here.
Penang covers Penang Island and Seberang Perai on the mainland — note which side you’re on, since the daily commute across the bridge is very different. The hiring route is the standard federal one.
Costs and checks that apply here
In Penang the statutory costs are the ones set nationally: the permit and visa fees — which Immigration's own guidance bundles with the annual foreign-worker levy at approval and at each PLKS extension — the FOMEMA medical and PERKESO cover. Use the first-year cost guide for the current figures rather than an agency estimate.
There is no official cap on the service fee an agency charges a household in Penang, so compare written, itemised quotes and verify the licence on the JTKSM register before paying — a licence confirms legitimacy, not price.
What to do next
Write a short household brief for Penang — who needs support, the main duties, timing and budget — then use it in every agency conversation.
Ask any agency serving Penang for its legal name and licence number, and verify both before paying anything.