Sixty days, and three conditions to meet

The Employment Insurance System, under the Employment Insurance System Act 2017, provides benefits and a re-employment placement programme for insured persons who lose their jobs.

The three conditions

To receive EIS assistance you must:

1. Apply within 60 days of the date of loss of employment
2. Satisfy the Contributions Qualifying Conditions — having paid EIS contributions for a required minimum number of months
3. Have a job loss falling within the Act's definition of loss of employment

What counts as loss of employment

The definition covers:

• Dismissals
• Non-renewal of contracts under specific conditions
• Retrenchment
• Certain involuntary separations

What you get

EIS income replacement and employment services — the re-employment placement programme is part of the scheme, not an add-on.

The 60 days runs from loss of employment

Not from when you finish looking for work, and not from when your savings run out. Apply as soon as the job ends.

The contribution rate

EIS is 0.20%, with a wage ceiling of RM6,000 since October 2024.

SOCSO — PERKESO — administers both SOCSO and EIS.

Check your contributions before you need them

The Contributions Qualifying Conditions require a minimum number of months paid. If your employer had gaps, you may not qualify.

Verify your record with PERKESO periodically rather than discovering a gap when you claim.

EIS is separate from termination benefits

Statutory termination benefits come from your employer under the Employment Act, for covered employees. EIS comes from the scheme.

They are different entitlements and you may be eligible for both.

And separate from an unfair dismissal claim

Unfair dismissal complaints go under the Industrial Relations Act 1967, also within 60 days. Filing one does not claim your EIS.

Where to apply

PERKESO, through approved channels.