Employment & Industrial Relations

Our Employment & Industrial Relations practice group offers specialised services on a broad range of employer-employee issues including terms and conditions of service; employee handbooks and manuals; collective agreements and trade disputes; disciplinary actions and dismissals; voluntary separation schemes; retrenchment and issues surrounding corporate restructuring of businesses.

Our service is characterised by the solutions-oriented approach when dealing with our clients’ problems. A large part of our work involves rendering advice to management and human resource departments on day-to-day personnel issues. We recognise the need to provide holistic solutions which are legally sound and in accordance with industry best practices.

Our clients are major corporations in banking and finance, insurance, transportation, telecommunications, petroleum and utilities.

We are able to offer prompt and practical solutions as a result of our keen understanding of their organisational and business objectives. We also offer practical training to our clients that is crucial to the implementation of their Industrial Relations and Human Resource plans.

Our expertise includes:

  • Drafting and rendering advice on contracts of employment
  • Negotiating and concluding collective agreements with unions
  • Advising on employment issues arising from mergers and acquisitions
  • Advising relating to the establishment and administration of pension funds, employee share option schemes and other remunerative schemes
  • Advising on employers duties relating to social security, workmen’s compensation and the Employees Provident Fund
  • Negotiating and concluding collective agreements
  • Advising on the Industrial Relations Act 1967 and the Trade Unions Act 1959 and other matters relating to trade unions
  • Advising on voluntary separation, retrenchment, dismissals and re-employment
  • Advising on industrial disputes such as strikes, picketing and other industrial action
  • Advising on Malaysian (including Sabah and Sarawak) labour law policies and practices
  • Conducting industrial and labour court litigation and appeals thereto

We also advise our clients on the legislative and regulatory framework relating to industrial relations issues such as the Industrial Relations Act 1967, the Employment Act 1955, the Human Resource Development Act 1992, Employees Social Security Act 1969, Employees Provident Fund Act 1991, Workmen’s Compensation Act 1952, Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990, Wages Council Act 1947, Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 and Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and the respective regulations made thereunder.

In addition to a thorough understanding of the law and its application, our work is distinguished by the hands-on approach in dealing with our clients and their employees. We believe our understanding of the complex interplay between the employer-employee relationship and the prevailing commercial, industry and statutory standards, are integral to achieve an effective solution in the industrial relations disputes.



SELECTED AWARDS

  • In-House Community Deal of the Year 2022 – In-House Community
  • Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year 2017, 2015 – ALB Malaysia Law Awards – Asian Legal Business
  • Asian-mena Counsel Firm of the Year 2019, 2018, 2017, 2014, 2013 for Employment – In-House Community

RANKING

  • Chambers Asia Pacific 2023 – Band 1 for Employment & Industrial Relations
  • Asialaw Profiles 2023 – Outstanding for Labour & Employment
  • Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023 – Tier 1 for Labour and Employment
  • Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2021 – Tier 1 for Labour and Employment

QUOTES

    “Very professional with impressive analytical skill, resources to research, flexibility. They are also approachable.” - Asialaw Profiles 2023

    “Extensive experience and exposure to labour and employment cases resulting in excellent service in representing its clients in industrial court hearing sessions and high court’s judicial review sessions.” – Asialaw Profiles 2019: Outstanding for Labour & Employment


    “Partners are accessible, pro-active, well versed in their area of expertise.” – Asialaw Profiles 2019: Outstanding for Labour and Employment


    "They are approachable and committed as a business partner." – Chambers and Partners 2019: Band 1 for Employment & Industrial Relations


Partners

  • P. Jayasingam

    +603-6209 8260
    [email protected]

  • Wong Keat Ching

    +603-6209 8270
    [email protected]

  • Thavaselvi Pararajasingam

    +603-6209 8269
    [email protected]

  • Teoh Alvare

    +603-6209 8268
    [email protected]