Forum: Consider bi-weekly payment arrangements for salaries

I refer to the recent letters about the need for stronger measures to protect employees from errant employers and sudden company closures.

One way to reduce the financial impact on workers in such cases could be to give employees the option to be paid bi-weekly instead of monthly.

Currently, the Employment Act requires salaries to be paid at least once a month. Allowing workers to choose a bi-weekly payment schedule – for example, receiving half their monthly salary every two weeks – would help them manage cash flow better and reduce potential losses if a company abruptly ceases operations.

While some employers may be concerned about the additional administrative work, modern payroll systems already automate much of this process. Moreover, more frequent payment could strengthen employee morale and trust, especially in industries with higher business turnover.

I hope the Ministry of Manpower can study the feasibility of encouraging or facilitating bi-weekly pay arrangements, particularly for vulnerable workers.

This would be a practical step towards improving financial resilience and ensuring that employees are not left stranded when unforeseen business failures occur.

Mohamad Nurhafiz Mohd Noor