Warning first, then fines for bosses who fail to report vacancies, Dewan told

PETALING JAYA: Employers who fail to report job vacancies to the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) will not be fined immediately.

Instead, the human resources ministry said they will first be issued a compliance notice.

Deputy minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said employers would be given briefings and guidance to ensure compliance before any compound fine notices are issued.

“Socso won’t issue fines straight away.

“This is for the first offence. Prosecution will only be a last resort,” he said when winding up the debate on the Employment Insurance System (Amendment) Bill.

Perkeso operates the Employment Insurance System, which provides income replacement, training and re-employment assistance to those who lose their jobs. It also operates the national job portal, MYFutureJobs.

Khairul earlier tabled the bill to consider changes made by the Dewan Negara to the proposed penalty structure.

The original amendment, which proposed the maximum RM10,000 penalty for non-compliance with reporting of vacancies under Section 45F of the Employment Insurance System Act, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 2, 2025.

However, the Senate amended the bill on March 12 this year and introduced a revised progressive penalty structure.

Under the revised provision, employers who fail to notify Perkeso of a job vacancy or newly created position before hiring workers will face a fine of up to RM1,000 for a first offence, up to RM3,000 for a second offence, and up to RM5,000 for a third and subsequent offences.

Khairul said the bill was introduced after concerns that the original RM10,000 penalty was too stiff, especially for first-time administrative offences and micro, small and medium enterprises.

He also said the bill was not intended to punish employers but to educate them to “create a job opportunity ecosystem that is organised and could provide good returns for the community”.

Khairul added that the ministry would consider exempting employers from reporting vacancies where necessary under the minister’s directive powers provided under Section 83 of the Act.

The bill was later passed with a majority voice vote after 14 lawmakers took part in the debate.