Migrant worker levy payments may be returned to employers in bid to incentivise testing: HR minister

KUALA LUMPUR – The government is studying a proposal to return levy payments for migrant workers to employers for bearing the cost of Covid-19 screenings at workplaces, says Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

The human resources minister said this measure is being considered to encourage employers to conduct Covid-19 screenings more frequently. 

However, Saravanan did not detail the required frequency of testing. 

“I have proposed to the finance minister (to transfer back the levy payment to employers). 

“We will wait for his decision,” he told a press conference after leading a compliance check at Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd in Puchong today. 

The bread manufacturer was inspected to ensure compliance of regulations under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514).

Earlier this month, Saravanan had announced the cabinet’s decision to postpone the implementation of a multi-tier levy system for the employment of migrant workers to January 1 next year.

With the multi-tier levy system’s implementation, employment of migrant workers would be based on the actual needs of Malaysian industries.

“It is expected to reduce the country’s high dependence on migrant workers, because the levy rate will increase according to the dependency ceiling,” Saravanan had said.

Meanwhile, Saravanan today also issued stern warnings to employers who are withholding the passports of their workers from other countries and instructed them to return the travel documents to them immediately.

The Tapah MP stressed that keeping workers’ passports is a serious offence under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446).

“I have received a litany of complaints from migrant workers that their employers are keeping their passports and have not returned them,” he said. 

“It is an offence under Act 446 for companies to withhold or keep passports of foreign workers working with them because they do not have the authority to keep documents of employed foreign workers even if it is their staff,” he said. – The Vibes, June 25, 2021