A Guide To Opening A Maid Agency In Malaysia
Lika all employment agencies, maid agencies in Malaysia are regulated by the Ministry of Human Resources (JTKSM) and the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981.
Specifically, maid agencies require a Category B JTK license, which permits job placements for foreign domestic workers within Malaysia.
If this is your plan, read on for a full overview of the application process, including:
- minimum requirements
- supporting documents
- fees, and
- steps in the application process (including other licenses)
Note: To see all three JTK license options, read our guide to opening employment agencies.
Otherwise, let’s begin.
Minimum requirements
There are four types of requirements you must fulfill:
- Capital
- Business entity
- Premises
- Directors
1. Capital
You need to prepare at least two types of capital:
- Paid-up capital: RM100,000
- Security deposit: RM100,000
This security deposit serves as a financial guarantee to settle any debts to JTK if penalties are imposed, and every new branch with a JTK B license requires an additional security deposit of RM30,000.
2. Business entity
In Malaysia, maid agencies cannot operate as a Sole Proprietorship and must be register as a Sdn Bhd that meets these requirements:
- at least 51% Malaysian ownership
- company name must begin with “Agensi Pekerjaan”
- business activity must state: “To carry on the business as Private Employment Agency to recruit and place worker/s to another employer.”
3. Premises
Maid agencies must have a physical office that is:
- located in a public and accessible location
- easily reachable by public transport
- not near establishments involved in immoral activities
- displays a signboard showing the agency name and license number
- housed in commercial premises or residential units with SOHO / SOVO status
4. Directors
All directors of a maid agency must:
- Be Malaysian citizens
- Not be discharged bankrupts
- Provide a statutory declaration confirming they are not convicted of human trafficking or forced labour
Required documents
The main JTK license application document is known as Borang 1 and must be completed and submitted along with these supporting documents:
- Company SSM profile
- Latest Annual Return
- Bank statement
- Copy of Local Authority (PBT) license / Temporary approval letter
- Copy of MyKad / Passport and shareholding details of individual shareholders
- SSM company profile of corporate shareholders
- Copy of MyKad / Passport of directors
- Copy of MyKad / Passport, non-bankruptcy declaration, and statutory declaration of the main director
⚠️ Note: The business address on your SSM profile, PBT license, and application form must be the same.
License application steps & timeline
| Step | Time Taken | Necessary Documents / Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Company incorporation | 3 – 5 working days | Register for account on SSM MyCoID and carry out name reservation + incorporation. You will be asked to provide the following information: 1. Proposed company name 2. Private / public company 3. Proposed type of business 4. Registered office address 5. Business address 6. Details of directors(s) and promoter(s) 7. Declaration from directors(s) and promoter(s) 8. Declaration of compliance from individuals responsible for incorporation Fee: RM1,010 |
| Step 2: Apply for premise and signboard license | 15 – 30 working days | Obtained from Local Authority where premise is located. You will be asked to provide copies of the following: 1. Set of SSM documents 2. S&P / Tenancy Agreement 3. Applicant’s MyKad photo 4. Office layout plan 5. Pictures of premises 6. Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) OR Certificate of Fitness (CF) Quit Rent (Cukai Tanah) and Assessment (Cukai Taksiran/ Pintu) receipts 7. Fire Department letter 8. Photos of exterior where signboard will be displayed 8. A colour visual of signboard design with measurements You also need to submit to a premise inspection by the Local Authority and make changes if requested. Fee: Differs between municipalities |
| Step 3: Apply for JTK license with Department of Labour | 30 working days | Fill in the following documents and submit them physically at the nearest Labour Office: 1. License Application Form 2. Sworn Statement 3. Official document checklist Fee: RM300 |
| Step 4: Register employees with Department of Labour | 30 working days | These must be submitted physically at a Labour Office. 1. Identification Application 2. Official document checklist Fee: RM50 / per employee |
| Step 5: Submit monthly reports | n/a | Submit the following four records to the Labour Department every month: 1. Registration of Jobseekers, Placement & Fee Collected 2. Registration of Employers, Placements & Fee Collected 3. Vacancies 4. Acknowledgment of Acceptance of Employees by Employers |
| Step 5: Renew JTK license | 30 working days | Every license category is valid for 24 months from the date it is issued, after which it must be renewed. As before, these documents must be submitted physically at a Labour Department branch. 1. Application for Agency License Renewal 2. Official document checklist Fee: RM100 |
Though steps and fees are constant, every application is made under different circumstances so please treat the wait times as estimates rather than hard rules.
Bonus: Renewing a maid agency license
While you’re here, we might as well explain how to keep your agency license valid in the long-term!
Your JTK license is valid for two years after which it must be renewed.
Due to the high-risk nature of dealing with domestic helpers, renewals for maid agencies must be done in person at a Labour Department office.
We cover this in full in our JTK license renewal guide, but here are key details:
- you pay a RM100 processing fee and RM500 for the new license
- required documents are mostly similar to the list above, just updated
- it usually takes thirty working days from application to renewal
And that’s it for now!
We wish you all the best with your agency application, and if you need assistance, MISHU is right here.
Let MISHU help set up your maid agency
Our team has years of experience helping business owners navigate with their JTK license applications and renewals. Get in touch!