A recent LinkedIn post by a local headhunter sparked heated debate after calling out job seekers for altering their payslips during interviews. The recruiter claimed some candidates had inflated their salary figures, for example, changing RM2,500 to RM3,500 in hopes of securing higher pay at their next job.
But what really caught attention was the backlash that followed…
One of the strongest responses came from Ikhwan Sunoto, a CEO in the oil and gas sector and a vocal advocate for ethical business practices. Sharing his thoughts on LinkedIn, Ikhwan did not just criticise candidates who fake payslips. He questioned why companies are still asking for them in the first place.
Ikhwan argued that the practice of requesting payslips belongs in the past and should have no place in today’s hiring process. He called it not just outdated but illegal. According to him, payslips and employment contracts are legally binding documents that should never be shared without mutual consent. Doing so could breach contract law and violate privacy regulations like Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
“It’s disappointing that HR and recruiters still demand these documents,” Ikhwan wrote. “If HR itself is not ethical, how can we expect employees to be? We can’t blame candidates for being dishonest if the system encourages unethical practices on both sides.”
Beyond legality, Ikhwan pointed out the harm this culture causes. Relying on past salaries to determine offers can deepen wage inequality, trapping people in cycles of unfair pay simply because of what they earned in previous jobs. Instead, he urged HR professionals to assess candidates based on their skills, experience and the value they can bring to the role.
He concluded with a firm stance: “Companies that depend on payslips to set salaries are showing low standards. It’s time for this practice to stop.”
A gentle reminder: Hiring should be fair, transparent and based on merit, not outdated documents. What do you think — should payslip requests be banned altogether in job applications?
