5th May 2026 - 2 min read
The government will introduce a post-maternity leave allowance to provide extra financial support for mothers who need more time off after their 98-day maternity leave ends. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the initiative at the 2026 National Workers’ Day Celebration in Kuala Lumpur on 1 May 2026.
The allowance will be introduced through an amendment to the Employment Insurance System (EIS) Act 2017 and is expected to benefit more than 132,000 female workers nationwide.
The allowance provides financial support for up to 30 additional days taken after the end of the statutory 98-day maternity leave period. It will be paid as a one-off lump sum at 80% of the monthly assumed salary for insured female workers.
In practice, the assumed salary under EIS is close to your actual monthly salary, capped at RM3,950. For example, a worker earning RM3,000 a month could receive around RM2,400 as a lump sum, while someone at the RM3,950 cap would receive about RM3,160.
Under the Employment Act 1955, female workers are entitled to 98 consecutive days of paid maternity leave, including rest days and public holidays.
To qualify for maternity allowance, a worker must have been employed for at least 90 days within the nine months before giving birth. They must also have worked at least one day in the four months before giving birth, and have fewer than five surviving children.
The allowance has been announced, but it is not in force yet as it still requires an amendment to the EIS Act 2017 to be tabled and passed. There is no confirmed implementation date for now.
Once it comes into effect, eligible female workers who contribute to EIS should be able to claim it through SOCSO, similar to other EIS benefits. In the meantime, checking that your EIS contributions are up to date is a good idea, since eligibility will likely depend on your contribution record when the time comes.
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Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.
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