Experience with JTK

I’d like to record my experience with JTK (Jawatan Tenaga Kerja, also known as the Labour Office) here in Malaysia, partly as a reference for myself and perhaps as something that others can relate to or learn from.

Tip 1: Don’t Be Rude
I’m not someone who’s naturally rude, but as with any authority figure, there’s absolutely nothing to gain by acting like we’re untouchable. It doesn’t matter if we hold a Datukship, Tan Sri title, or some other prestigious accolade—those don’t carry any weight when it comes to compliance. In Malaysia, there’s no shortage of people with high-ranking titles, and chances are the officers have seen it all. Titles certainly don’t equate to compliance, and if anything, our former prime minister is living proof they can mean the opposite. So, the golden rule here is to stay respectful.

Tip 2: Prevention and Preparation Are Everything
Let’s face it—none of us are 100% compliant. Whether it’s due to negligence, ignorance, or the impracticality of some of our laws, full compliance feels elusive at times (and that’s the elephant in the room). That’s why preparation is key.

We should rehearse how to respond in situations where a team of officers—sometimes nearly 20 of them—raids our company. Training staff to remain calm is critical because these officers are adept at creating tension and chaos. When emotions take over, we’re more likely to slip up, and that’s when even minor issues start surfacing. By practicing what to say, what to lock up, what to show, and what not to show, we can at least approach these situations with a bit more composure when the day comes.

Of course, the ideal scenario is to have nothing to hide in the first place. But sometimes, we may not even be aware of potential issues. This brings us to part B of this tip: compliance training.

Having a capable HR department is invaluable—ideally one with staff who are well-versed in the ever-changing landscape of laws and policies. Compliance training isn’t a one-off event; our laws evolve constantly, and the way they’re interpreted can change even faster. Sometimes, it takes a raid on one company for the rest of us to discover a new interpretation of an old law that’s being enforced. Staying informed and proactive can save us from unnecessary trouble.

Tip 3: Read Between the Lines
During an interrogation, we should try to get a sense of the personalities of the officers or team investigating us. Personally, I approach these situations with genuine curiosity—I see every experience as a chance to learn, and this was no exception. Adopting this mindset has been surprisingly effective.

Let’s consider the alternative: if we go in knowing the laws inside out and are 100% confident our company is compliant, arrogance can easily creep in. If we insist too strongly on our compliance, how do we think the officers will react? Even if we’re entirely in the right, we might come across as suspicious.

The truth is, most companies in Malaysia aren’t fully compliant. And if ours happens to be one of the rare exceptions, the officers likely haven’t come across a company like it before. Their expectations may also be influenced by our industry or location. By putting ourselves in their shoes, we can anticipate their assumptions and gently nudge their perspective toward a more accurate and fair understanding.

The stance of genuine curiosity allows us to navigate these interactions more safely. Let’s be honest—it’s unlikely any of us know the newest version of every law in detail, and they probably don’t expect us to. Almost every question during an interrogation feels like stepping on a landmine, so taking our time is essential. Pausing to think, asking why certain questions matter, and considering how to frame our answers from the employee’s perspective can make all the difference.

It’s important to remember that JTK’s role is to look out for our employees, particularly in areas where we might fall short. I was fortunate to encounter officers who genuinely wanted me to understand their questions. At one point, they even pulled out a whiteboard to explain something in detail—until one of their colleagues reminded them they were supposed to be interrogating me! It was quite the moment, though their whispering (and they do a lot of that) made it even more amusing.

Looking back, I realized they gave me several chances to refine my responses. They repeated questions, confirmed and re-confirmed my answers, and gave me room to adjust if needed. For that, I’m truly grateful, and I hope anyone else in similar situations encounters officers as professional as they were.

With these three tips, I hope we can all handle government officer raids with greater ease and less stress.

Note: this was proofread by ChatGPT and Claud AI.