JTKSM (Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia), known in English as the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia, is the agency under the Ministry of Human Resources that enforces the Employment Act 1955 and other labour laws in Peninsular Malaysia. It investigates worker complaints such as unpaid wages, runs the Labour Court for monetary claims under Section 69 of the Employment Act, and licenses activities such as private employment agencies. If your workplace is in Sabah or Sarawak, a separate state labour department handles your case.
- JTKSM operates under the Ministry of Human Resources and enforces the Employment Act 1955 [Act 265] plus related labour laws for Peninsular Malaysia.
- You can lodge a complaint through the eAduan JTKSM mobile app, the SisPAA system at mohr.spab.gov.my, by phone on 603-8000 8000, by email at jtksm@mohr.gov.my, or at a labour office.
- The Labour Court, run by the department, hears monetary claims between employers and employees under Section 69, and workplace-discrimination claims under Section 69F.
- Employees earning more than RM4,000 a month (except manual employees) cannot claim certain Labour Court benefits such as overtime, rest-day and holiday work pay, shift allowances, and termination benefits.
- Since the Employment (Amendment) Act 2022 took effect on 1 January 2023, the Act covers all employees regardless of wage, and the maximum working week was cut from 48 to 45 hours.
Who this applies to: Employees and employers in Peninsular Malaysia who need to file, defend or understand a labour complaint, or identify the correct enforcement agency for wage, hours, contract, housing, retrenchment or foreign-worker matters.
On this page
If your employer has not paid your salary, there is a specific government office whose job is to investigate and, where the law allows, order that money paid — without you hiring a lawyer or going to civil court. In Peninsular Malaysia, that office is JTKSM: the Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia, or Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia. It sits under the Ministry of Human Resources and enforces the Employment Act 1955 and related labour laws.
What exactly is JTKSM?
JTKSM is the labour-administration and enforcement arm for Peninsular Malaysia. According to the department, it originated as the Jabatan Buruh Semenanjung Malaysia in 1912 and, in February 2003, took over employment-service functions from the Department of Manpower and was renamed JTKSM. It is one of the departments and agencies under the Ministry of Human Resources.
Its role is to make sure employers comply with labour law and that workers are protected. That covers three broad jobs: enforcement (minimum wages, working hours, termination), complaint investigation (unpaid wages, unfair dismissal, workplace discrimination), and education and advisory services.
What does the department actually do?
The department lists a wide mandate. Its core functions include:
- Enforcing labour laws, including the Employment Act 1955, and studying and reviewing amendments to that legislation.
- Handling labour complaints and disputes between employees and employers, including workplace sexual-harassment complaints.
- Overseeing retrenchment — employers must notify the department within 30 days before a layoff.
- Registration of the place of employment — employers must report within 90 days of establishing a workplace.
- Enforcing workers’ housing and amenities under Act 446, processing foreign-worker procedures and labour permits, and licensing private employment agencies under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981.
- Running Labour Court proceedings and conducting labour education programs.
How do I file a labour complaint?
JTKSM offers several channels. Pick whichever is easiest for you.
| Channel | How to use it |
|---|---|
| eAduan JTKSM app | Mobile app for private-sector workers (and the public), on Google Play and the Apple App Store |
| SisPAA online | Ministry of Human Resources public complaint system at mohr.spab.gov.my |
| Phone | 603-8000 8000 |
| Fax | 03-8888 9111 |
| jtksm@mohr.gov.my | |
| In person | Department address: Aras 5, Blok Setia Perkasa 3, Putrajaya |
The eAduan JTKSM app is specifically provided as a channel to report non-compliance with labour laws by employers in Peninsular Malaysia.
What is the Labour Court, and can it help me?
When a complaint is about money, it is heard in the Labour Court. Monetary claims between employers and employees are handled under Section 69 of the Employment Act 1955 [Act 265], and workplace-discrimination claims can be filed under Section 69F. This is a lower-cost route than ordinary litigation.
There is an important eligibility limit. Employees earning more than RM4,000 a month (except manual employees) are not eligible to claim certain benefits before the Labour Court — including overtime, rest-day and paid-holiday work pay, shift allowances, and termination benefits.
Who does the Employment Act cover now?
The Employment (Amendment) Act 2022, effective 1 January 2023, expanded coverage of the Employment Act to all employees who have entered into a contract of service, regardless of wage (with some provisions still excluded for those earning above RM4,000). The same amendments cut the maximum working week from 48 to 45 hours for all employees. The full text of the Act is published by JTKSM as a downloadable PDF.
Does JTKSM cover Sabah and Sarawak?
No. JTKSM’s authority is Peninsular Malaysia only. Workers in Sabah and Sarawak fall under those states’ own separate labour departments, so a complaint about a Sabah or Sarawak workplace should not be lodged with JTKSM.
What’s next
Identify whether the workplace is in Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) or in Sabah/Sarawak (their own departments), gather your employment details, and lodge the complaint through eAduan JTKSM, SisPAA, or your nearest labour office. For the entitlements behind a claim — wages, hours, leave and termination — read the underlying Employment Act 1955.
How do I file a labour complaint with JTKSM?
You can lodge a complaint through the eAduan JTKSM mobile app (Google Play and the Apple App Store), the Ministry of Human Resources SisPAA system at mohr.spab.gov.my, by phone on 603-8000 8000, by fax on 03-8888 9111, by email at jtksm@mohr.gov.my, or at a labour office.
Does JTKSM cover the whole of Malaysia?
No. JTKSM covers Peninsular Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak have their own separate labour departments.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Exact founding date/decree and precise February 2003 rename date on a primary gov source (currently only Wikipedia MS and secondary directories state 1912 origin as Jabatan Buruh and 2003 rename to JTKSM).
- Current exact number of JTKSM state/branch labour offices in Peninsular Malaysia.
- Section 19 Employment Act 1955 requirement that wages be paid within 7 days of the wage period, and the exact maximum fine (commonly cited as RM50,000) — confirm against Act 265 statute text before stating.
- Minimum wage RM1,700 effective dates (1 Feb 2025 for 5+ employees; 1 Aug 2025 all employers) — verify against the official Minimum Wages Order 2024 / gov gazette rather than HR blogs.
- Current name/branding of the parent ministry — confirm whether it is styled 'Ministry of Human Resources' or 'KESUMA (Kementerian Sumber Manusia)' in current official usage.
- Precise High Court appeal window (commonly cited 14 days) for Labour Court orders — confirm against Act 265.
- Whether the Working for Workers (WFW) app and eAduan/SisPAA are the same channel or distinct — official pages reference both.
Sources
- JTKSM Function — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM)
- Peranan Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK) — MyGovernment (malaysia.gov.my)
- Services — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM) — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM)
- Labour Case — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM) — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM)
- eAduan JTKSM — Digital Services — MyGovernment (malaysia.gov.my)
- Complaints — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM) — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM)
- Employment Act (Amendment) 2022 — Coverage (official JTKSM document) — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM)
- Akta Kerja 1955 (Akta 265) — Laws of Malaysia online reprint — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM)
- Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia — Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu — Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu (secondary — pending primary confirmation)
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 14 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |