Dismissed From a Job in Perlis
Let go from a small business or farm job in Perlis, you have the same rights as anywhere.
Perlis is Malaysia’s smallest state. Its workforce spreads across agriculture, small trading businesses and some cross-border trade near Padang Besar.
A worker here has exactly the same Section 20 rights as one in a much larger state.
A small state with a real process
Perlis has fewer large employers than most states. Many dismissal disputes here involve small trading businesses or agricultural suppliers.
That smaller scale does not lower the bar an employer has to meet. The same unfair dismissal test applies regardless of business size.
Workers near the Padang Besar border sometimes move between Malaysian and cross-border trade. Employment through a Perlis-based employer still falls under Malaysian law.
Rice farming supports much of Kangar’s surrounding area. A worker let go from a farm supplier still has the same rights as one in a Kuala Lumpur office.
Support that draws on neighbouring states
Given the smaller caseload here, the JPPM office for Perlis works closely with Kedah and Penang. Together they run conciliation for cases from the state.
A claim that does not settle goes to the Industrial Court.1 Ask JPPM which Industrial Court branch will hear your claim.
That shared arrangement does not change your 60-day deadline or your right to bring a case.
The Padang Besar crossing also supports a small trading and logistics workforce that moves goods between the two countries. Their Malaysian employer is still bound by the same rules.
What to do next
If your job ended involuntarily, the Employment Insurance System offers separate help.2 It has its own 60-day claim window, alongside any unfair dismissal claim you bring.
Use the deadline calculator to keep both dates straight. Gather whatever payment or work records you have.
If you want an employment lawyer to act, send your dates and what happened, even without formal paperwork. An independent lawyer may review the facts and replies about whether and how they can act.
If you were dismissed from a trading business or a border farm in Perlis and want a lawyer to act, send your dates and what happened. An independent employment lawyer may review the facts and replies about whether and how they can act.
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
Perlis is a small state with mostly small businesses. Does the unfair dismissal process still apply here?
Yes, the size of the state or the business does not change your rights under Section 20. A small trading business near Kangar is bound by the same requirement to show a genuine reason for dismissal as a larger company elsewhere.
I worked in agriculture near the Padang Besar border and was let go without notice. What should I keep?
Keep any payment records, messages about your work and the date you last worked, even if there was no formal written contract. These details still support a claim under the Industrial Relations Act.
Does being in Malaysia's smallest state mean I have less support finding out my options?
The JPPM office for Perlis works closely with the Kedah and Penang offices given the smaller caseload here. The same national process is open to you either way, and JPPM can confirm which Industrial Court branch hears it.
Sources
- The Industrial Court sits at its Kuala Lumpur headquarters with branches including Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Mahkamah Perusahaan Malaysia, contact
- The Employment Insurance System run by PERKESO gives temporary financial help to those who lose their jobs involuntarily, and a claim should be made within 60 days of termination. malaysia.gov.my (PERKESO EIS)
Keep reading
If you were dismissed from a trading business or a border farm in Perlis and want a lawyer to act, send your dates and what happened. An independent employment lawyer may review the facts and replies about whether and how they can act.
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.