Wednesday, February 13, 2013

No time limit to claim EPF arrears from employers


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) no longer imposes the six-year time limit to deny employees from claiming the arrears of contributions from employers.
Its public relations general manager, Nik Affendi Jaafar said the decision was taken after the Federal Court on Jan 16 unanimously endorsed the Court of Appeal's decision barring an employer from banking on the time-limit provision in its appeal.
"With this landmark decision, any appeal made by employers on the ground of time-limit can no longer be used in any court for the ruling has already been established by the Federal Court.
"Hence, employers or company directors need to take proactive actions to ensure that they make EPF contributions on time, apart from regularly updating records on the appointment and resignation of directors with the Companies Commission of Malaysia," he said in a statement today.
Nik Affendi said the number of errant employers dropped to 1.20 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year from 1.48 per cent in the previous quarter due to enforcement and employers' awareness on their responsibility on the well-being of employees in their retirement.
He said the names of 436 company directors were submitted to the Immigration Department in the fourth quarter of last year to prevent them from leaving the country for not settling the arrears of EPF contributions under Section 39 of the EPF Act 1991.
Under the Act, employers are required to remit monthly statutory contributions for employees on or before the 15th day of each month.
Thus, Nik Affendi advised employees to check their EPF accounts regularly to ensure that they were in order and alert the EPF on any doubts by providing supporting documents such as pay slips and the appointment letter.
"Employees can check their EPF accounts at their own convenience through the i-Akaun facility. For members who have not register for this facility, they are encouraged to do it as soon as possible.
"Complaints against errant employers can be made at the nearest EPF branch, by contacting the EPF Call Centre at  03-8922 6000 (open from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday) or online viahttp://enquiry.kwsp.gov.my," he said.
Nik Affendi also urged employers to use the i-Akaun facility that would enable them to check on the number of employees getting the employer's contributions and the payment records online.

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