Spouses' Job / Income Opportunity

Please note that this page is dedicated to answering questions about Foreign Spouses of Expatriates. You must fulfill the following criteria in order to be eligible for this program.

If this does not describe your situation, please click here.

If any of your questions remain unanswered or should you need further details, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help!

Before we get into how you can find work here in Malaysia, it is imperative we explain certain facts about Malaysian employers and the local employment environment.

With effect from 1st January 2009, all dependents of expatriates in Malaysia will be able to work without converting from a dependent's visa to a work permit. However, approval from the Immigration Dept. is still required and at this moment, not a lot of information is available on whether there is a minimum set of rules that the spouse or the sponsor company are required to adhere to. As with the principal expatriate' situation, it would  require clearly identifying how yours is a skill set only few Malaysians can match. Whether this be through your work history or via your educational qualifications, please bear in mind that proving a "differentiating factor" is a requirement to obtain employment in Malaysia.

Secondly, your compensation package (salary, benefits, etc.) for a local job will come no where near matching what you might expect to receive in most western & European countries. If you want to work in Malaysia, you must align your salary expectations with local compensation packages.

Finally, working in Malaysia requires the same amount of dedication and commitment as it would in your home country. Most expatriate spouses request flexible hours and lengthy "home leave" and vacation terms. Local employers are generally not able to accommodate such requests.

Alternatively, if you feel that the limitations set on you by working for a local employer might be too much, the Massongroup can assist in helping you set up a local business. If you chose to go this route, there are a number of alternatives: