Dismissed in Sabah? Speak to a lawyer
Your Sabah job ended and you want to know if a lawyer can act.
Sabah’s economy stretches well past Kota Kinabalu. Palm oil estates ring Sandakan and Lahad Datu, and port and offshore work lines the coast.
One court handles claims from across that spread.
Where is a Sabah case heard?
A Sabah claim, including one from the east coast, goes to the Industrial Court. JPPM confirms which branch hears the case.
A written representation to the Director General of Industrial Relations must reach the department within 60 days of dismissal1.
How do Sabah plantation and port jobs differ?
Estate and plantation staff on the east coast face different pressures from tourism and services workers around Kota Kinabalu. Both groups are covered by the same national test.
Certain employment benefits in Sabah sit under the Sabah Labour Ordinance. The dismissal route itself runs under Section 20 for everyone, and the employer carries the burden of proving a fair reason2.
When should you bring in a lawyer?
Talk to someone before you sign an exit letter or a settlement, because signing first leaves fewer options. That is true whether the job was on an estate, at a port or in a Kota Kinabalu office.
Send the date you were dismissed and what happened. An independent employment lawyer serving Sabah reviews the facts and may reply about whether, and how, they can act.
What should you do this week?
Write down your last working day, what you were told and a short timeline of events. Keep your contract, payslips and any written notice.
Read about retrenchment in Kota Kinabalu if your job was in the city. Distance from Kota Kinabalu does not slow down that first message.
If you want an employment lawyer to take on your dismissal, send the date you were dismissed and what happened. An independent employment lawyer serving Sabah may review whether it is worth pursuing and handle the claim if it is.
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
First contact: general facts only, such as date, location, employment status and a short summary. Keep documents private until an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests them.
Common questions
I work on a palm oil estate near Lahad Datu and was dismissed after a dispute with my supervisor. Can I still get advice?
Yes. A first conversation does not need a trip to Kota Kinabalu. Estate and plantation staff on the east coast are covered by the same process as workers in the state capital.
Does the Sabah Labour Ordinance mean my case works differently from the peninsula?
The ordinance sets certain employment benefits for Sabah workers, but the Section 20 dismissal route applies the same way as it does nationally. A lawyer can explain how the two fit your situation.
My employer said my role in Sandakan was seasonal and simply ended. Is that worth checking?
Seasonal work does end on its own terms sometimes, but a truly seasonal role and a dismissal dressed up as one can look alike on paper. Check the facts before you accept the explanation.
Sources
- A worker dismissed without just cause or excuse may make a written representation to the Director General of Industrial Relations seeking reinstatement within 60 days of the dismissal under Section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act 1967. Mah Weng Kwai & Associates
- The burden of proof lies on the employer to show that a dismissal was for just cause and excuse. Mah Weng Kwai & Associates
Keep reading
If you want an employment lawyer to take on your dismissal, send the date you were dismissed and what happened. An independent employment lawyer serving Sabah may review whether it is worth pursuing and handle the claim if it is.
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
First contact: general facts only, such as date, location, employment status and a short summary. Keep documents private until an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests them.