MEF slams hike in fees for expat workers

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Employees Federation (MEF) has slammed TalentCorp’s move to increase rates for expatriates.
 
This comes barely a day after the government backtracked on tighter regulations for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) pass holders.
 
The MEF said the revised rates for the expatriate employment pass (EP), professional visit pass (PVP) and dependent pass (DP), which were recently announced by TalentCorp, were untimely and could drive away investment.
 
A circular by TalentCorp indicated that the EP fee has been increased 167% from RM480 to RM800 per person, while the DP fee increased 540% from RM83 to RM450 and the PVP fee increased 800% from RM100 to RM800.
 
MEF president Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman said there are serious concerns over the corporation’s decision to increase the fees for such passes effective November 15.
 
“We are at a very critical stage to ensure that Malaysia’s economic recovery efforts will be smooth, be able to attract more investments, and also maintain existing investors,” Syed Hussain said in a statement today.
 
“The revised rates for these expatriate passes will pose difficulties and complications to recruit expatriates and for renewal of related passes, which may cause disruptions in business continuity.”
 
The hiked fees for expatriates comes a day after Putrajaya backed down from the 10 new regulations imposed on MM2H pass holders, who now need to comply with only two conditions.
 
Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-BN) told the Dewan Rakyat that existing pass holders will have to comply with the fee increase from RM90 to RM500, and the requirement for them to stay in the country for a minimum of 90 days a year.
 
Last month, the minister was adamant that the government would not review the new, more stringent conditions for the MM2H programme.
 
Meanwhile, Syed Hussain said the industry required all the support to facilitate the country’s economic recovery.
 
“We should provide more attractive terms to attract investments rather than increase their costs though this may not seem to be significant in terms of investment,” he said.
 
“The increased rates sent a wrong message because we should address the high number of unemployed graduates today by facilitating the inflow of capital and investments.
 
“We should be more prudent in our strategies as we look forward to seeing Malaysia reemerge as a vibrant place for investments, and we hope that the policies would facilitate and nurture the creation of such an environment.” – The Vibes, October 6, 2021