Leave and Attendance Management Systems in APAC

When leave goes untracked or payroll calculations miss the mark, companies don’t just lose time; they lose money. There are even higher stakes in the APAC region. 

For example, in Singapore, HR teams must comply with MOM regulations, track annual leave, public holidays, and unpaid leave, and ensure CPF contributions are accurately calculated. Even minor errors can lead to penalties or employee disputes during audits. It’s a similar story across the APAC region, where you have to stay on top of local laws and overtime rules that change fast and carry serious penalties if ignored.

So what’s the root of the problem?

Outdated systems, patchwork tracking, and HR tools that were never built with APAC’s complexity in mind. That’s why 68% of HR leaders in the region are prioritizing leave and attendance automation this year. 

Whether you’re evaluating leave management software Philippines or a reliable attendance system in Malaysia, this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through what actually works, backed by real local context.

Why are leave and attendance management systems important?

First, let’s take a look at why companies need these systems in the first place 

Leave and attendance management systems are essential for companies in APAC, not just for keeping tabs on who’s at work, but for staying legally compliant, paying employees correctly, and creating a smooth experience across different countries.

In the Philippines, time off affects more than just schedules, as it ties into SSS contributions, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and 13th-month pay. Without the right tools, HR ends up doing it all manually, which can lead to costly mistakes. That’s why more teams are switching to leave management software in the Philippines to automate it and keep payroll on track.

Meanwhile in Malaysia, tracking attendance goes hand-in-hand with calculating EPF, SOCSO, and overtime pay. A solid attendance management system in Malaysia helps HR catch compliance issues early and keeps payroll and records audit-ready, especially for shift-based teams.

Also, in countries like Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand, where many employees work in manufacturing, field sales, or hospitality, mobile-first attendance tracking is useful and easy to keep track of.  

As APAC companies expand, juggling different labor laws and holidays gets messy fast. A good leave and attendance management system adapts to each country, keeps data audit-ready, and saves HR from spreadsheet chaos.

Read next: How to Improve Employee Attendance Tracking Without Micromanaging Your Team

Key Features to Look For in Leave and Attendance Management Software

When looking for attendance and leave management software,  you should prioritize features that address both universal HR needs and local specifics. Below are some key features to consider:

Customizable leave policies

Leave policies vary by country and even by company. The right leave management software in the Philippines should allow you to set up everything from service incentive leave and sick days to carryovers, accruals, and probation-based eligibility.

Tools like Omni make it easier by coming pre-loaded with built-in holiday calendars for the Philippines and Malaysia, so HR teams don’t have to input every national or regional holiday manually. 

You can also customize leave types and time-off settings to match your internal policies. With Omni’s secure document management, HR can store and share official leave policy documents with your team all in one place. 

Get started with our Leave Policy Template!

This kind of flexibility not only helps you stay compliant with local labor laws while giving your team clarity and consistency, without having to manage it all through manual spreadsheets and disjointed systems.

Real-time attendance tracking

Tracking when and where employees work gets a whole lot easier with a robust attendance management system in Malaysia, especially given the country’s reliance on biometric verification and strict overtime regulations.

Modern platforms like Omni offer real-time attendance tracking with flexible options, such as mobile check-ins and geotagging, giving HR teams accurate, location-based data that they can trust.

Omni’s attendance module is built with the needs of growing APAC enterprises in mind. With features like geotagging, managers can instantly see when employees clock in or out within authorized locations, improving both visibility and compliance. This is especially valuable for shift-based or field teams in Malaysia, where keeping attendance records accurate is a must for payroll processes such as calculating EPF, SOCSO, and overtime pay.

“Omni allows us to extract accurate data, which makes it a great platform for timekeeping and payroll."
— Iron Mike Minguez, HR Admin Assistant at Dev Team

Learn about: How Dev Team optimized time tracking and payroll processing wth Omni

Shift scheduling and timesheet management

Companies that run on shifts, like those in BPO, retail, or manufacturing, need more than just basic scheduling. A strong attendance management system in Malaysia should offer seamless rostering, where you can easily define shift timings, assign employees, and track actual hours worked. 

With Omni, HR teams can set custom work hours for each employee or role, making it easier to manage staggered shifts or part-time schedules across teams. The platform also captures hours worked and ensures payroll reflects actual attendance. 

For example, in Malaysia, anything beyond 45 hours a week qualifies for overtime pay. Omni can automatically calculate excess hours based on local labor laws, ensuring your employees are paid fairly and your operations remain compliant at all times. 

When everyone can view their shifts, timesheets, and overtime all in one simple platform, it’s easier to plan ahead, avoid scheduling conflicts, and keep your operations running smoothly since day one. 

Learn more: How to Choose the Best HR Software for Your BPO in 2025

Self-service portals for leave requests and approvals

An employee portal makes life easier for both employees and managers. It lets staff apply for leave, check balances, and log attendance without needing to go through HR. With Omni’s self-service portal, managers can approve requests with a click, and everyone gets updates in real time.

For example, a manager in Manila can instantly approve a team member's leave request via Omni’s platform, through Slack or Microsoft Teams with our integration. Once leave is approved, balances are updated instantly, and the corresponding employee payroll data is adjusted to reflect the most updated information.

Mobile-first access and multi-language support

In APAC, multi-language support isn’t just helpful; it’s expected. Your leave management software in the Philippines should be able to speak your team’s language. For instance, using Tagalog can boost adoption and reduce confusion in Manila or Cebu.

Equally important is on-the-go access. With so many on-the-go or remote workers in the region, your system needs a well-designed app that’s both intuitive and reliable.

Omni checks both boxes with a user-friendly mobile app that allows employees to apply for leave, check balances, and receive real-time notifications straight from their devices. On the language front, Omni supports over 10 languages across 190+ countries, so your team can interact with the system in their preferred language, whether it’s Tagalog, Bahasa, or others.

Integration with payroll and existing HRIS

Leave and attendance aren’t standalone; they directly affect payroll and must integrate with your broader HR tech stack. A good system automatically pushes approved leave and attendance data into payroll, ensuring accurate calculations for salaries, overtime, and statutory contributions.

For example, leave management software Philippines should be able to accurately handle prorated pay and statutory contributions like SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG. Similarly, an attendance management system Malaysia must accurately track work hours and ensure that overtime pay and leave encashments comply with local labor laws.  

Omni offers built-in integrations with accounting and collaboration tools like Xero, Slack, Microsoft Teams and more. Our all-in-one HR platform ensures that attendance and leave data flows seamlessly into other modules like multi-country payroll, ensuring no duplicate entries or data gaps. This makes it much easier for HR teams to keep everything up to date across regions and departments, especially for companies scaling across APAC.

Top Leave and Attendance Management System in APAC

There are several leave and attendance management systems popular in APAC, each with its own strengths.

Omni

Omni is an all-in-one HR platform with leave and attendance management built specifically for growing teams and enterprises across APAC. It’s ideal for companies that need deep regional compliance, seamless payroll sync, and mobile-first tools without the complexity of traditional systems. 

• Purposefully built for APAC with pre-configured compliance for CPF, EPF, SOCSO, SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth and more.
• Offers customizable work hours, holiday calendars, and leave policies, freeing HR teams to focus on strategic matters instead of building everything from scratch. 
• Includes a mobile application with real-time geotagged check-ins and self-service leave applications.
• Supports 10+ languages and serves users in 190+ countries, making adoption easy for multilingual and distributed teams.
• Syncs leave and attendance data directly with multi-country payroll, ensuring accurate and compliant payouts across borders.
• Easily integrates with accounting and communication tools for a consistent, streamlined experience.
• Secure document management allows teams to store and share leave policies and employee records all in one place.

"Omni’s comprehensive time-off module provided enhanced visibility into employees' time-off schedules across the company."
— Karla Dacanay, Sr. Manager, People Operations at iXS

See how: iXS achieve full visibility on colleague's time off

Darwinbox

Darwinbox is a good leave management software choice among enterprises in Southeast Asia and India. Its HR suite offers powerful leave and attendance tools that support complex workflows and biometric integrations. Here are some key things to note: 

• Strong in localization with support for Malaysian EPF/SOCSO and other regional compliance requirements.
• User-friendly mobile app and chatbot options, though initial setup can be complex.
• Known for robust compliance automation, especially for large teams with layered approvals.
• Integrates with biometric hardware, HRIS, and collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams.

Zoho People

Zoho People is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses that want flexibility without high setup costs. It’s not APAC-specific, but you can configure leave types, calendars, and rules manually to match local needs. You have access to: 

• Localization relies on customization; you build the local rules yourself (which can take time if you’re unfamiliar with the local laws).
• Easy to use with a clean interface and mobile support.
• Basic compliance tracking; strong for internal policy rules but needs manual setup for government-specific items.
• Global support model with help docs and tutorials.
• It integrates well with other Zoho tools and offers basic API access for payroll sync.

Deel

Deel isn’t a traditional HRIS; it’s a global EOR platform that manages local compliance for you. Ideal if you’re hiring remote employees or contractors across multiple APAC countries.  

• It handles local labor law compliance for you, including payroll, taxes, and benefits.
• Easy for HR and employees, as most tasks can be done through Slack or the web app.
• It has strong built-in compliance, especially across countries where you don’t have a legal entity.
• It integrates with payroll, Slack, HR platforms, and ATS tools.

What does the implementation and onboarding process look like?

Rolling out a new leave and attendance system across your APAC offices doesn't have to be stressful. Most modern platforms, like Omni, guide you through setup in just a few weeks. Here's what the process usually looks like:

1. Set up your data and policies

Upload your employee records, leave balances, and holiday calendars. The system helps you configure local rules like Pay-IBIG monthly contributions in the Philippines or EPF contributions in Malaysia so you're compliant from day one.

2. Customize workflows and connect your tools

Define who approves what, automate notifications, and plug the system into your payroll or HRIS. If you use biometric devices or Slack, now's the time to integrate them.

3. Test, train, and tweak

Run a few test scenarios to make sure everything works, then train your HR team, managers, and employees. Most tools are intuitive, and vendors often provide how-to guides or short demos to get everyone up to speed.

4. Go live with ready support

Once everything checks out, switch over. Many teams do a soft launch alongside the old system for the first payroll cycle. Providers often offer region-specific support so you can get help in real time if anything goes off-track.

Omni’s award-winning support team is readily available to guide you through necessary software updates, resolve issues, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements according to your timezone so that you can focus on your business and initiatives that truly matter. 

With the right vendor like Omni and a clear rollout plan, you can be fully operational in weeks, not months. Omni’s intuitive setup and pre-built workflows and integrations with tools your team already uses make implementation fast and frictionless. Once you’re live, your leave, attendance, and payroll data stay in sync automatically, making audits, reporting and compliance not just easier but effortless.

Hassle-Free Leave and Attendance Across Your APAC Offices with Omni

Managing HR across multiple APAC countries doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

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With Omni, you get an award-winning HR platform built for regional complexity, combining local compliance, payroll, automated workflows, and employee experience into one seamless system. 

Whether you’re scaling across borders or wanting to simplify your tech stack, Omni gives you the control, visibility, and agility to scale with confidence. 

Why modern enterprises choose Omni

Ready to take the next step? Schedule your personalized demo with our team today and see how Omni fits your plans.