Malaysia

‘Our sweat, their excuse’: Workers left in limbo as employers fail to submit EPF contributions

Despite monthly salary deductions, employees discover their EPF savings never made it into their accounts – jeopardising future plans and financial security

Updated 10 months ago · Published on 10 Oct 2025 12:28PM

‘Our sweat, their excuse’: Workers left in limbo as employers fail to submit EPF contributions
When an employees raised the matter with the company’s human resources department, she was told to “give it some time” due to alleged payment delays from clients - October10, 2025

FOR more than a year, Sufiah Saidi’s payslip showed regular deductions for her Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions. But the reality behind the figures was far more troubling: the money never reached her EPF account.

“I only found out in June last year after a colleague mentioned it,” Harian Metro cited Sufiah, 35, a former administrative staff member at a private company saying.

“When I checked the EPF app, I saw my last recorded contribution was on 16 March 2024, amounting to RM504. But every month, my salary was being deducted.”

She later discovered that since April 2024, there had been no deposits at all. The arrears now total RM8,064.

When she raised the issue with the company’s human resources department, she was told to “give it some time” due to alleged payment delays from clients.

“That was the excuse—they said they hadn’t received payment from their clients. Until now, nothing has been done,” she said, adding that she has since resigned.

Sufiah described the situation as more than just a financial loss, saying it has shattered her long-term plans.

“We put in the hours, the energy, and the sweat—but our rights as workers are ignored.

“That money was meant for our retirement. Now, we can’t even apply for a home loan or personal financing because our EPF accounts show no activity,” she said.

The uncertainty has taken an emotional toll.

“I lodged a report at EPF headquarters in May and am still waiting for updates,” she added.

A similar story emerged from Mohd Zaidi Ahmad, 37, who said his employer has not made any EPF contributions since January 2024, despite monthly salary deductions continuing.

“I only found out when I checked my i-Akaun. The last deposit was in January. After that, the deductions are just numbers on a payslip—none of it reached my account,” said Zaidi, who works in customer service.

He said the unpaid contributions now amount to a substantial sum, but all he’s been given is vague promises.

“They kept saying the money will be credited soon but never told us when. It’s just empty words,” he said.

Zaidi expressed frustration that his financial future is now uncertain due to what should have been a basic employer responsibility.

“How can we plan for the future when even something as fundamental as EPF isn’t being managed properly? This is our right—it’s our hard-earned money,” he said. - October10, 2025

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