PUTRAJAYA: The Human Resources Ministry will introduce mobile labour courts and expand its digital labour court system in 2026 as part of efforts to make justice more accessible and reduce the burden on workers.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the mobile labour courts, described as “moving labour courts”, are designed to bring judicial services directly to workers instead of requiring them to travel to fixed court locations.
The initiative is expected to benefit workers in rural and hard-to-reach areas, who often face long travel distances, lost wages and additional expenses when attending hearings.
“A mobile court will go to the workers. It is a practical solution to reduce travel costs, lost wages and time away from work,” Ramanan said.
“We want to facilitate access to justice, not frustrate it.”
The ministry has allocated RM5 million for the initial rollout of the programme, which will initially deploy three mobile units in Peninsular Malaysia.
Rollout is scheduled to begin by August, with more units expected to be added in the future, depending on demand and operational needs.
Ramanan added that the courts will focus on areas where access to labour justice is most challenging, ensuring workers can seek legal redress without incurring additional hardship.
In addition to the mobile courts, the ministry plans to expand the digital labour court system, which was introduced in 2024 to streamline dispute resolution through a digital recording system.
The number of digital courts will increase from 12 to 18 in 2026, with a RM1.8 million allocation.
The expansion is intended to speed up case proceedings, improve transparency, and strengthen the integrity of the process.
New courts will be located in Ipoh, Alor Setar, Muar, Rawang, Kuantan, and Kuala Terengganu.
Ramanan said both initiatives are part of the ministry’s broader drive to modernise labour enforcement and protect workers’ rights.
The combination of mobile and digital courts aims to reduce delays, cut costs for workers, and improve the overall efficiency of labour dispute resolution.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
