Dismissed From a Job in Perlis
A small trading job near Kangar still comes with the same sixty day window as anywhere larger.
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 is heard through the Industrial Court’s Penang division, the nearest branch to Perlis.1
That shared arrangement does not change your sixty 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 sixty 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.
Speak with an employment lawyer once your dates and documents are clear, whichever side of the state you worked on.
A short message about your situation, even without formal paperwork, is a reasonable place to start.
Whether your work was in a small trading business or on a farm near the border, tell us what happened and we can talk through your options.
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, but the same national process and the Penang Industrial Court branch are open to you either way.
Sources
- The Industrial Court sits at its Kuala Lumpur headquarters with branches including Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Malaysian Counsel
- 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 sixty days of termination. malaysia.gov.my (PERKESO EIS)
Keep reading
Whether your work was in a small trading business or on a farm near the border, tell us what happened and we can talk through your options.