Reference
The Carriera Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the recruitment and HRD-Corp training terms we use every day in Malaysia.
This glossary defines the recruitment and HRD-Corp-claimable training terms that recur across Carriera's work — from licensing labels like JTKSM 615 and SBL-Khas to statutory terms like the Employment Act 1955, EPF, SOCSO, SST and e-Invoice. Each entry gives a canonical definition and how it applies in our context.
How should I read this glossary?
Entries are grouped alphabetically below. Each term gets a one-to-two-sentence canonical definition, followed by an "in our context" line showing how Carriera uses it across recruitment and corporate training. Where a term involves an external rate or rule, the number is verified against the relevant authority and linked. Anything you cannot find here, just ask us on WhatsApp.
What do the HRD Corp and levy terms mean?
HRD Corp terms govern how Malaysian employers fund training from a statutory levy. The figures below are taken directly from HRD Corp's own published guidance; we cite the source so you can confirm the current rate before you budget.
| Term | One-line meaning | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| HRD levy rate | 1% of monthly wages + fixed allowances (mandatory, 10+ employees); 0.5% (optional, 5–9 employees) | hrdcorp.gov.my/faq |
| SBL-Khas | Course fee debited from the employer's levy account instead of paid upfront | HRD Corp support centre |
Define the word once, define it right — then point you to the people who set the rule.
- HRD Corp (HRDF)
- The Human Resource Development Corporation — the agency, formerly known as HRDF, that administers Malaysia's statutory training levy under the PSMB Act 2001. In our context: Carriera Academy is an HRD Corp Approved Training Provider, so eligible employers can fund our programmes from their levy. (Rates per hrdcorp.gov.my.)
- HRD Levy (HRDF Levy)
- A monthly training levy that registered employers pay to HRD Corp, calculated on employees' monthly wages plus fixed allowances. HRD Corp states the rate is 1% for mandatory employers (10 or more Malaysian employees) and 0.5% for optional employers (5 to 9 employees) — see hrdcorp.gov.my/faq. In our context: this accumulated levy is what pays for claimable training, so it is worth confirming your current balance before registering.
- SBL-Khas
- Skim Bantuan Latihan Khas — the HRD Corp Claimable Courses scheme. Per HRD Corp's support centre, the course fee is debited from the employer's levy account rather than paid upfront, provided the course and training provider are registered with HRD Corp. In our context: Carriera Academy's programmes are SBL-Khas claimable.
- PSMB Act 2001
- The Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad Act 2001 — the law establishing the training levy and HRD Corp's mandate. The duty to register and pay the levy flows from this Act and its First Schedule. In our context: it is the statutory backbone behind every "HRD Corp claimable" label you see on our training.
- JTKSM 615
- Carriera's private employment agency licence number, issued by Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Department) under the Ministry of Human Resources. In our context: it authorises Agensi Pekerjaan Carriera Talent Resources Sdn Bhd to operate as a licensed recruitment agency — proof your hiring partner is properly licensed.
- MoHR (Ministry of Human Resources)
- Kementerian Sumber Manusia — the federal ministry overseeing labour law, employment-agency licensing (JTKSM) and HRD Corp. In our context: both of Carriera's regulators — our recruitment licence and our training-provider status — sit under MoHR.
- Employment Act 1955
- Malaysia's principal labour statute, setting minimum terms such as working hours, leave, notice and termination. In our context: we screen offers and placements against its requirements, and it anchors much of Carriera Academy's HR and payroll training.
- Permanent Placement
- Recruitment for a full-time, ongoing role where the hired person becomes a direct employee of the client. In our context: this is Carriera's core service — white-collar permanent roles from management to specialist technical positions across Peninsular Malaysia.
- Contingency Recruitment
- An engagement model where the agency is paid only when a candidate it presents is actually hired — success-based, with no upfront retainer. In our context: Carriera does not publish a fee percentage; arrangements are agreed directly with each client. Ask us via contact.
- Headhunting
- Proactively identifying and approaching specific high-calibre or passive candidates for a role, rather than waiting for applicants to come to you. In our context: we apply a quality-over-volume approach, so clients see a focused shortlist of genuinely suitable people, not a flood of CVs.
- Shortlisting
- Narrowing a candidate pool down to the few best-fit people a client should interview, after assessing qualifications, technical knowledge, experience and soft skills. In our context: it is step four of Carriera's six-step recruitment process.
- CV Screening
- The manual review of candidate CVs against a role's real requirements before anyone is shortlisted. In our context: Carriera screens every candidate by hand rather than auto-filtering, which is exactly why clients receive a curated shortlist instead of a CV flood.
- EPF (KWSP)
- The Employees Provident Fund / Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja — Malaysia's mandatory retirement savings fund, built from employer and employee contributions on wages. In our context: it is a standard part of any compliant employment offer we help structure for a placement.
- SOCSO (PERKESO)
- The Social Security Organisation / Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial — provides employment-injury and invalidity protection through compulsory employer and employee contributions. In our context: like EPF, it forms part of a standard Malaysian employment package on any offer we advise on.
- SST (Sales & Service Tax)
- Malaysia's Sales and Service Tax, administered by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. It can apply to certain professional and training fees. In our context: we invoice in line with prevailing SST rules, and SST is a recurring topic in Carriera Academy's tax training.
- LHDN (IRB)
- Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri — the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, responsible for direct taxes including income tax, PCB/MTD deductions and the e-Invoice rollout. In our context: LHDN compliance runs through our tax, payroll and finance training themes.
- e-Invoice
- LHDN's electronic invoicing system, which requires businesses to issue invoices in a validated digital format and submit them to the tax authority. In our context: helping finance and admin teams adapt to e-Invoice is a frequent subject of Carriera Academy's HRD-Corp-claimable tax programmes.
Where can I get a term explained for my own situation?
Definitions only go so far — the useful part is applying them to your hiring plan or your training budget. If you want to know whether a programme is SBL-Khas claimable for your company, or how the Employment Act affects a specific role you're filling, message us directly. We are a small team, so you speak to a consultant, not a call centre. Reach us on WhatsApp or via the contact page.
Still have a term you'd like decoded?
Ask us about any recruitment or HRD-Corp training term — and how it applies to your business. A consultant will reply personally.
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