What PERKESO Actually Does
You keep seeing this name mentioned about support after losing a job.
PERKESO is a name many workers only encounter after losing a job, even though it has been quietly involved in their employment the entire time.
What It Means
PERKESO is the Social Security Organisation, the government body that administers Malaysia’s employment-related social security schemes, including support for workers who lose their jobs involuntarily.
It sits apart from the Industrial Relations Department, which is the office that actually decides whether a dismissal itself was fair.
Why It Matters To You
One of the schemes PERKESO runs, the Employment Insurance System, provides a Job Search Allowance for three to six months to eligible workers, with a claim window of 60 days from termination.1
That timeline runs alongside, not instead of, the separate 60-day deadline for challenging an unfair dismissal, so both need attention if they both apply to you.
What Else Does This Body Handle
Beyond job loss support, PERKESO also administers other schemes tied to workplace injury and long-term incapacity, which are different again from job loss assistance.
If your job ended through retrenchment, it is worth checking your EIS eligibility alongside any question about whether the redundancy itself was genuine.
For the dismissal side of things, confirm your filing window on the deadline calculator separately from anything you claim through PERKESO.
Telling us whether you have already contacted PERKESO helps us explain how that process runs alongside your dismissal claim.
Common questions
Is PERKESO the same office that handles my dismissal claim?
No. PERKESO administers social security and job loss support schemes. Your unfair dismissal claim is handled separately by the Director General of Industrial Relations.
Do I need to contact PERKESO myself, or does my employer do it?
Employers generally handle ongoing contributions while you are employed, but claiming benefits after job loss, such as under the Employment Insurance System, is something you typically apply for yourself.
Sources
- The Employment Insurance System gives temporary financial help, including a Job Search Allowance for three to six months, to employees who lose their jobs involuntarily, and a claim must be lodged within 60 days of termination. malaysia.gov.my, Employment Insurance Scheme (EIS)
Keep reading
Telling us whether you have already contacted PERKESO helps us explain how that process runs alongside your dismissal claim.