MOF: 2pc EPF contribution rate for foreign workers relatively low

The Malaysian Finance Ministry has noted that the two percent EPF contribution rate for non-Malaysian workers is set to balance social protection objectives with employer costs, particularly addressing the concerns of SMEs facing rising business expenses.

Since the mandatory EPF contribution began in October 2025, it has garnered compliance from 78,129 employers, including 86% SME participation.

This initiative aligns with international practices to enhance social protection for all workers, and the government remains open to policies' improvements based on feedback.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — The two per cent Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution rate payable by employers for non-Malaysian workers is relatively low, the Finance Ministry (MOF) said.

The ministry said the rate takes into account the need to balance workers’ social protection objectives with the costs borne by employers.

“The government recognises the challenges employers face from rising business costs, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“Under the Employees Provident Fund Act 1991, all employers have been required to contribute to the EPF for non-Malaysian workers employed in Malaysia since October 2025,” the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply published on Parliament’s website yesterday.

The ministry was responding to a question from Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) on measures to ease the burden on SMEs amid rising business costs, including whether the government would consider requiring foreign workers to bear the full cost of EPF contributions.

Since mandatory contributions were introduced in October 2025, a total of 78,129 employers have contributed to the EPF for 1,754,460 non-Malaysian workers, the ministry said.

“Of these employers, 86 per cent, or 67,194, were SMEs, defined as businesses with no more than 200 employees in the manufacturing sector and no more than 75 employees in the services and other sectors.

“This indicates that the mandatory contribution requirement has begun to gain acceptance and is being implemented by employers, including SMEs,” it said.

The ministry said mandatory EPF contributions formed part of the government’s efforts to expand social protection coverage to all workers in Malaysia, in line with international practices.

It added that the government remained open to proposals from all parties to improve policies over time.

“The government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these initiatives and engage with SME associations and communities to ensure that assistance reaches businesses in need,” it said. — Bernama

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马来西亚财政部指出，非马来西亚籍员工2%的公积金缴款率旨在平衡社会保障目标与雇主成本，尤其关注面临不断上涨的经营成本的中小企业的担忧。

自 2025 年 10 月强制缴纳 EPF 以来，已有 78,129 家雇主遵守规定，其中中小企业参与率为 86%。

这项举措符合加强对所有劳动者社会保障的国际惯例，政府也始终愿意根据反馈意见改进政策。

吉隆坡，10 月 23 日讯——财政部表示，雇主为非马来西亚籍员工缴纳的 2% 雇员公积金 (EPF) 缴款率相对较低。

该部表示，该费率考虑到了平衡工人社会保障目标与雇主承担成本的需要。

“政府认识到雇主们面临着不断上涨的经营成本带来的挑战，尤其是中小企业。

该部昨天在国会网站上发表的书面答复中表示：“根据 1991 年《雇员公积金法》，自 2025 年 10 月起，所有雇主都必须为在马来西亚工作的非马来西亚籍工人缴纳雇员公积金。”

该部门是在回应潘伟仕（希望联盟-地不佬）提出的问题时做出上述表态的，该问题涉及在商业成本不断上涨的情况下，政府是否会考虑要求外籍劳工承担全部公积金缴款，以减轻中小企业的负担。

该部表示，自 2025 年 10 月强制缴款以来，共有 78,129 家雇主为 1,754,460 名非马来西亚籍工人缴纳了雇员公积金 (EPF)。

“在这些雇主中，86%（即 67,194 家）是中小企业，中小企业的定义是制造业员工人数不超过 200 人，服务业和其他行业员工人数不超过 75 人。

报告称：“这表明强制性缴款要求已开始被接受，并正在被包括中小企业在内的雇主所实施。”

该部表示，强制性公积金缴款是政府为扩大马来西亚所有劳动者的社会保障覆盖范围而采取的措施之一，符合国际惯例。

声明还补充说，政府始终对各方提出的改进政策的建议持开放态度。

政府表示：“将继续监测这些举措的成效，并与中小企业协会和社区保持沟通，以确保援助能够真正惠及有需要的企业。”——马新社

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