When must salaries be paid? The 7-day rule

Example

For a monthly wage period ending 30 September 2026, salaries are due by 7 October 2026.

Civil servants' salary dates 2026 (JANM)

Federal government staff are paid on dates set each year by the Accountant General (JANM). For 2026 they are:

Some months are paid earlier because of a festival (Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali, Christmas). * JANM later moved the March and April 2026 payments earlier than the dates in its circular (letter of 6 March 2026); the table shows the circular's dates. Source: SPANM Bil. 5/2025, Lampiran 1. These dates are for the federal civil service only — private employers follow the 7-day rule above.

Overtime, rest days and public holidays

Pay for overtime, and for work on rest days and public holidays, may instead be paid by the last day of the next wage period (s.19(2)).

Does it apply to higher earners?

Yes. Since 1 January 2023 the Employment Act covers anyone with a contract of service. The RM4,000-a-month line now only affects a few overtime and holiday-pay provisions (such as ss.60(3), 60A(3) and 60J), and section 19 is not one of them. This comes from the Employment (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2022, P.U.(A) 262/2022; its start date was moved to 1 January 2023 by P.U.(A) 273/2022.

Where it applies

The Employment Act 1955 applies to Peninsular Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak have their own Labour Ordinances, which we have not checked.

Contributions on those salaries are due by the 15th of the next month: EPF, SOCSO, EIS and PCB.