SHAH ALAM - The government has announced a proposal to make it compulsory for non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF).
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed that the initiative would be implemented gradually and aimed to ensure fair treatment for all workers, in line with international standards.
While presenting the 2025 Budget in Parliament, Anwar who is also the Prime Minister emphasised that fair treatment will be given to all workers, regardless of nationality, in line with international standards.
"As the nation moves towards becoming an ageing society, EPF is reviewing its scheme to strengthen the intergenerational transfer approach, where part of a member's savings can be transferred directly to the accounts of their immediate family members.
"The government also plans to extend the individual income tax relief for contributions to the private retirement scheme (PRS) and deferred annuity premium payments until the 2030 assessment year," he said while presenting the 2025 Budget in Parliament, today.
Anwar also announced that the i-Suri programme would continue through a matching contribution scheme supported by the government, with active contributions from participants.
The self-employment social security scheme will receive a budget allocation of RM100 million and will subsidise up to 70 per cent of worker contributions. T
This, he said will benefit self-employed individuals who often lack formal social security coverage.
"The social insurance programme, known as the Perlindungan Tenang Scheme, will continue in collaboration with Bank Negara, the insurance industry and takaful operators to benefit up to two million recipients of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR).
"They are eligible to claim a RM30 voucher to partially cover the cost of purchasing Tenang protection products, which provide coverage for death, personal accidents and general risks such as fire and floods," he said.