MBAM wants foreign workers to pay their own levy
The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) wants the government to shift levy payments back to foreign workers instead of employers.
Association vice-president Sufri Mohd Zin told a press conference today that it is unfair and illogical for employers to pay the levy for their foreign workers.
"We want foreign workers to pay for their own levy. If employers paid for the levy, foreign workers will bring the money back to their own countries," Sufri said.
He added that the money used to pay for the foreign workers' levy should be used for the upgrading and improvement of the construction industry instead.
The association estimates that the foreign worker levy policy will place a financial burden of more than RM2 billion annually on the contractors.
The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) wants the government to shift levy payments back to foreign workers instead of employers.
Association vice-president Sufri Mohd Zin told a press conference today that it is unfair and illogical for employers to pay the levy for their foreign workers.
"We want foreign workers to pay for their own levy. If employers paid for the levy, foreign workers will bring the money back to their own countries," Sufri said.
He added that the money used to pay for the foreign workers' levy should be used for the upgrading and improvement of the construction industry instead.
The association estimates that the foreign worker levy policy will place a financial burden of more than RM2 billion annually on the contractors.
MBAM president Foo Chek Lee said if employers paid their foreign workers’ levy, there would be nothing to stop the workers from running away.
“This policy will encourage them to run away because they do not owe anything to the employers.
“(If the foreign workers pay their own levy) They have to clear the levy before running away,” he said.
The association also wants the government to repeal the Employer Mandatory Commitment (EMC) and stop the burden of responsibility on construction industry players.
Foo said the implementation of the EMC would encourage foreign workers to move jobs more freely.
He also said that employers are not guilty until proven guilty and should not be responsible for the foreign workers’ actions.
“Just because they run away due to certain issues, it doesn’t mean that employers must be fully responsible,” he said.
Foo also called for more transparency in the hiring process of foreign workers, which could see the workers mobilised to project sites within a month.
“We (employers) can only apply for the foreign workers’ licence after we get a letter of appointment.
“They are expected to start work in two weeks, but the application of the licence will take six months,” Foo said.
He therefore called on the government to simplify the licence application process.
MBAM, representing 32 contractor associations, will be submitting a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office today to appeal for the rescind of the foreign workers' levy and the EMC.
