Malaysia delays implementation of levy payment

Hanoi (VNA) – The Cabinet of Malaysia has agreed to a one-year delay on applying
the new regulation on levy payment on foreign workers by employers.
On December 31,
2016, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
reported since the beginning of 2017, employers in Malaysia will be responsible
for paying the levy of their foreign workers.
However,
employers called on the government to take a careful study before implementation.
Minister of
Transport Liow Tiong Lai said the decision to delay the implementation of levy payment
was made after Minister of the
Prime Minister's Department Paul Low presented an overall assessment on the Employer Mandatory Commitment.
The
Cabinet wanted to study an appropriate mechanism to create favourable
conditions for industries in hiring foreign labourers while ensuring growth
without causing social issues.
Minister
Liow said Prime Minister Najib Razak agreed to review the issue himself and would
discuss it with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Human
Resources to solve the issue thoroughly.-VNA