If your company is hiring interns this year, there is a government incentive you should absolutely be taking advantage of.TalentCorp Malaysia is currently offering the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.talentcorp.com.my/our-initiatives/for-employers-partners/likes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Internship Placement Matching Grant for SMEs and Start-ups (LiKES</a>), a programme that helps employers offset the cost of hiring interns by reimbursing part of their monthly allowance.This incentive is designed to encourage more companies to provide structured internship opportunities for Malaysian students, while easing the financial burden on employers.If you already run an internship programme or are planning to start one, this is essentially free money that helps you build your future talent pipeline.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h2>What Is the TalentCorp LiKES Grant?</h2>The LiKES programme is a matching grant by TalentCorp Malaysia that reimburses employers for a portion of their interns’ monthly allowance.It is open to:<ul><li>Malaysian SMEs and start-ups registered with SSM</li><li>Companies that place Malaysian students in structured internship programmes</li><li>Employers who comply with TalentCorp’s internship guidelines</li></ul>Under this programme, employers can receive monthly reimbursements for a portion of their interns’ allowance, subject to TalentCorp’s approved allocation and endorsement period.The reimbursement amount depends on the intern’s qualification level:<ul><li>For diploma, SKM and Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) students, employers can receive up to RM250 per intern per month if the minimum allowance of RM500 is paid.</li><li>For degree, advanced diploma, master’s and professional certificate students, employers can receive up to RM300 per intern per month if the minimum allowance of RM600 or more is paid.</li></ul>Reimbursements are available for up to 12 months per intern, with an annual cap of:<ul><li>RM3,000 per intern (Tier 1)</li><li>RM3,600 per intern (Tier 2)</li></ul>Eligible employers can receive reimbursements for multiple interns, subject to TalentCorp’s approved allocation, with a total claim value of up to RM36,000 per company.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:85.98%;"><img src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/multiracial_group_young_creative_people_smart_casual_wear_discussing_business_brainstorming_meeting_ideas_mobile_application_software_design_project_modern_office_coworker_teamwork_concept_1f06fe724e.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h2>How Does It Work?</h2>In simple terms, here’s how the LiKES grant works:<ol><li>You hire a Malaysian student as an intern and pay them a monthly allowance.</li><li>You register your internship programme under TalentCorp’s LiKES programme.</li><li>Once your intern starts, you submit your documents for reimbursement.</li><li>TalentCorp reimburses part of the intern’s monthly allowance directly to your company.</li></ol>The monthly reimbursement is:<ul><li>Up to RM250 per intern per month for diploma, SKM and DKM students</li><li>Up to RM300 per intern per month for degree, advanced diploma, master’s and professional certificate students</li></ul>Reimbursements are available for up to 12 months per intern, subject to TalentCorp’s approved allocation and endorsement period.Your company continues paying the intern as usual, and TalentCorp refunds part of the cost.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h2>Who Can Apply?</h2><h3>Employers must:</h3><ul><li>Be registered with SSM</li><li>Be classified as an SME or start-up</li><li>Provide structured internship placements for a minimum of 10 weeks</li><li>Pay interns according to TalentCorp’s minimum allowance guidelines</li><li>Comply with all programme requirements and documentation</li></ul><h3>Interns must:</h3><ul><li>Be Malaysian citizens</li><li>Be diploma, degree or TVET students</li><li>Be placed in a TalentCorp-approved internship programme</li><li>Be registered under the LiKES system</li></ul>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h2>Why This Matters for Employers</h2>Hiring interns is one of the best ways to build a long-term talent pipeline. You get:<ul><li>Fresh ideas and energy</li><li>Extra hands for growing teams</li><li>A chance to train future full-time hires early</li><li>Stronger employer branding among young talent</li></ul>With the LiKES grant, the government is now helping you cover part of the cost, making internships even more accessible for small and growing companies.For SMEs and start-ups, this is a rare opportunity to grow your team while keeping costs manageable.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:79.28%;"><img src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/young_asian_man_sitting_meeting_table_work_6c98163117.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h2>How Hiredly Helps You Hire Interns for Free</h2>Now here’s where we come in. Hiredly is also supporting Malaysia’s youth employment goals by offering&nbsp;<a href="https://my.hiredly.com/advice/hiredly-free-internship-posts-malaysia-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">free internship job postings</a> every month.All employers on Hiredly can unlock&nbsp;3 free internship postings every month simply by opting in to updates from Hiredly’s official WhatsApp account.There are:<ul><li>No hidden fees</li><li>No minimum spend</li><li>No long-term commitments</li></ul>You get free job ads, and TalentCorp helps subsidise your intern allowance. It is a win-win.This initiative also aligns with the Malaysian government’s 1:3 Practical Training Policy, which encourages companies to create more structured internship placements for local students.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h2>Make the Most of Both Incentives</h2>If your company is hiring interns in 2026, you should be leveraging both:<ol><li><a href="https://www.talentcorp.com.my/our-initiatives/for-employers-partners/likes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TalentCorp LiKES Grant</a> Get up to RM36,000 in total reimbursement for intern allowances, subject to approved allocation.</li><li><a href="https://my.hiredly.com/advice/hiredly-free-internship-posts-malaysia-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hiredly Free Internship Postings</a> Advertise your internship roles for free every month.</li></ol>Together, these initiatives make it easier and more affordable than ever to build your internship programme and support Malaysia’s future workforce.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h2>Start Hiring Interns on Hiredly</h2>If you are ready to start building your internship pipeline, you can post your internship roles on Hiredly today.Visit:<a href="https://hiredly.com/employer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;https://hiredly.com/employer</a> Or reach out to: <a href="mailto:employer@hiredly.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">employer@hiredly.com</a>Let’s build Malaysia’s future workforce together, one internship at a time. &nbsp;

Malaysian SMEs and start-ups can receive internship allowance reimbursements through TalentCorp’s LiKES matching grant. Learn how the programme works, who qualifies, and how your company can benefit.