If you have been dealing with Malaysia's training levy system for more than a few years, you will have noticed the branding shift from HRDF to HRD Corp. It has caused persistent confusion — some HR managers still file under "HRDF" while others use "HRD Corp," and many are unsure whether the rules changed. This guide clears it up once and for all.
What is HRDF?
HRDF stands for Human Resource Development Fund. It was the name of both the fund itself and the statutory body that administered it — officially registered as Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB) under the Ministry of Human Resources. The fund was established under the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad Act 2001 and made levy contributions mandatory for employers in covered sectors.
What is HRD Corp?
HRD Corp — Human Resource Development Corporation — is the new trading name for the same statutory body (PSMB). The rebrand was announced and took effect in 2021 as part of a broader modernisation effort under the Malaysia Budget 2021 announcement. The legal entity, the act, the levy system, and the claims portal are all unchanged.
What actually changed in 2021
While the rebrand itself was cosmetic, 2021 did bring some substantive changes that employers should know about:
- Expanded sector coverage — more industries are now mandatory registrants under the PSMB (Amendment) Act 2021
- Gig economy inclusion — platform workers and certain freelancers are now eligible to access levy-funded training
- Foreign-owned companies — companies with foreign ownership above certain thresholds must now register if they meet the employee threshold
- New grant schemes — SBL-Khas was expanded to cover more digital economy and strategic skills categories
- Employer training plan submission — HRD Corp now encourages (and for some schemes, requires) annual training plans submitted via eTRiS
Who must register — and has this changed?
The basic registration threshold is unchanged: employers in covered sectors with 10 or more Malaysian employees must register and pay the 1% levy. Employers with 5 to 9 employees may register voluntarily at 0.5%. The post-2021 change is that more sectors now fall under the covered categories — check the updated Second Schedule of the Act if you are in agriculture, education, or healthcare, which were historically excluded.
The eTRiS portal: same system, new name
The claims portal previously referenced as the "HRDF portal" is now branded as eTRiS (e-Training Information System) at etris.hrdcorp.gov.my. If you have bookmarked old HRDF portal URLs, these now redirect to the HRD Corp domain. Your login credentials, levy balance, and claim history carry over — there was no re-registration required.
Do training providers need to re-register as "HRD Corp" providers?
No. Training providers who were HRDF-registered remained registered under HRD Corp automatically. Their provider registration numbers are the same. Courses approved under HRDF remain claimable under HRD Corp. New providers register through the same eTRiS portal under the new HRD Corp branding.
Why "HRDF" is still widely used
Despite the official rebrand, "HRDF" remains the dominant term in job postings, HR job descriptions, training provider marketing, and Google searches across Malaysia. This is normal for established institutional brands — people use the name they learned first. For practical purposes, the two terms are interchangeable. When communicating with HRD Corp officially, use "HRD Corp." In everyday HR conversations, either term is understood.
Key takeaways for employers
- HRDF and HRD Corp are the same body — the rebrand happened in 2021
- Your levy rate, payment deadlines, and claims process are unchanged
- More sectors now face mandatory registration post-2021 — verify if you are newly covered
- eTRiS is the correct portal — etris.hrdcorp.gov.my
- Your old provider relationships and course approvals remain valid
- SBL-Khas has expanded scope — check if your planned training now qualifies
Find HRD Corp registered training providers
Whether you call it HRDF or HRD Corp, FindTraining.com lists every registered training provider in Malaysia so you can find claimable courses faster.