#Workplace #Human Resources

HR Guide: How Do You Calculate an Employee's Hourly Rate?

Mohamad Danial bin Ab. Khalil
by Mohamad Danial bin Ab. Khalil
Nov 18, 2020 at 8:16 AM

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As an employer, you sometimes need to convert a salary to an hourly rate. The basic calculation of an hourly rate for a salaried worker isn't tricky, but there are two ways to do it. Be careful to select the right method, or you may end up paying someone more or less than you should.

 

Hourly vs. salaried employees

Workers in Malaysia are compensated as either hourly or salaried workers. 

Hourly employee: Receives a specified sum for each hour worked.

Salaried employee: Receives a predetermined amount, such as a monthly rate paid out in equal portions each pay period.

 

 

What the law says

Section 60A(1) of the Employment Act 1955 says a worker shall not be required under their contract of service to work:

(a) more than five consecutive hours without a period of leisure of not less than 30 minutes duration;

(b) more than 8 hours in 1 day;

(c) in excess of a spread over 10 hours in 1 day;

(d) more than 48 hours in 1 week.

This provision was drafted when most workers in Malaysia are required to work six days a week; therefore, they are required to work only for a maximum of 8 hours per day.

A new amendment allows an agreement between employers and employees, where the number of working hours on one or more days of the week is less than 8 hours. The limit of 8 hours may be exceeded on the remaining days of the week, so long as the worker is not required to work over 9 hours in 1 day or 48 hours in 1 week.

person calculating
The usual working hours per week is 40 hours.

 

Determining an hourly rate for salaried employees

 

1. Check the monthly income

One can refer to the employee's latest salary slip. Use the gross pay, which is the amount before taxes and deductions. If the employee is paid every two weeks, multiply their salary by two. Be sure not to include overtime pay as it is separate from their regular working wage.

 

2. Calculate how many days worked

Only count the days your employees are working. Don't forget to consider public holidays too. 

For example, if your employees work five days a week, the total should be 22 days of work.

 

3. Divide gross pay by total days worked

Divide the worker's gross pay by total working days, and the sum will be their hourly rate.

Gross pay ÷ Total Days Worked = Hourly salary

For example: 2000 ÷ 22 = RM90.90

 

 

Contributions for employee

There are three contributions employers and employees should pay for: EPF, SOCSO, and SIP.

 

EPF

Under EPF, employers have to contribute:

  • 13% of the employee's basic salary (if the monthly salary is RM5,000 and below).
  • 12% if the monthly salary is more than RM5,000.

For employees, they will need to contribute 7% of their salary. (Before April 1, 2020, the minimum employee contribution rate was 11%)

For instance: 

13% x basic salary

13% x 2000 = RM260 (Employer contribution)

7% x 2000 = RM140 (Employee contribution)

 

SOCSO

You can refer to SOCSO's contribution rate here.

Under the First Category (Employment Injury Scheme and Invalidity Scheme):

For instance, the employee wage is RM2,000.

The employer will need to contribute RM34.15.

The employee will need to contribute RM9.75. 

Read : The Complete Guide to SOCSO

 

Under the Employment Insurance System (EIS), the contribution rate is 0.2% for the employer and 0.2% for the employee. You can refer to the schedule here.

For instance, the employee monthly wage is RM2,000. Therefore, the employer and employee will need to contribute RM3.90 each.

calculator
If you are sceptical of using manual calculation, you can always use local payroll software to ease the process.

 

Preparing the salary for employee

Employers will need to include their EPF, SOCSO, and SIP contribution to the employee's salary. For example:

 

2,000 + 260 + 34.15 + 3.90 = RM 2,298.05

This is the amount the employer needs to prepare for the employee.

 

For employees, this is the calculation:

Basic Salary - EPF - SOCSO - SIP = Monthly Salary (not including overtime, allowance, commission, and claim)

 

For example: 

2,000 - 140 - 9.75 - 3.90 = RM 2,153.65

 

Disclaimer: This article serves as a guide to calculate an employee's hourly rate as well as employer and worker contributions. Please consult SOCSO and EPF for further information.

 

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Sources: SOCSOEISEPF

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