KUALA LUMPUR, 5 December 2025 — The SME Association of Malaysia welcomes PERKESO’s initiative in organising a briefing session today to present the amendments to Act 800, clarify its objectives, and explain the intended operational framework. The session was attended by National President Dr. Chin Chee Seong.
During the briefing, PERKESO reiterated that the amendments to Act 800 are designed to enhance worker protection, improve labour market visibility, strengthen job-matching mechanisms, and ultimately contribute to Malaysia’s long-term human capital development.
The agency emphasised that its intention is genuine, people focused, and aligned with the goal of nation building.
The SME Association of Malaysia supports these objectives and trusts that the implementation of the amended Act 800 will be carried out fairly, transparently, and practical for SMEs. While safeguarding workers remains a priority, the mechanism of compliance must remain workable and not impose excessive administrative demands on SMEs.
Dr. Chin conveyed confidence in PERKESO’s consultative approach:
“We appreciate PERKESO’s openness in engaging stakeholders and welcoming industry feedback. Constructive dialogue is essential to ensure smooth implementation of the amended Act 800. We are encouraged by PERKESO’s willingness to explore solutions, including clearer exemption criteria and greater flexibility for certain categories in vacancy reporting. A balanced approach will support compliance while preventing unnecessary burden on business operators,” he said.
The Association further emphasises that ongoing engagement is crucial, particularly for industries with non-traditional workforce structures such as seasonal, project based and short-term employment. Proper calibration of reporting requirements and practical operational guidelines will be key to compliance success.
The SME Association of Malaysia stands ready to continue collaborating with PERKESO, providing industry perspectives and supporting refinement of the implementation framework to ensure that the amended Act 800 meets its intended objectives without compromising business sustainability.
