2,257 company directors barred from leaving Malaysia over unpaid EPF contributions in 2025

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By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, March 14: A total of 2,257 company directors were barred from leaving the country for failing to pay Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for their employees between January and December 2025.

EPF chief operating officer Sazaliza Zainuddin said the names of the employers were submitted to the Immigration Department under Section 39 of the EPF Act 1991, bringing the total number of company directors barred from travelling abroad for the same offence to 14,332 as of last December.

She added that last year the EPF also filed 3,530 civil suits and initiated 6,011 criminal actions against company directors and employers who failed to fulfil their employees’ EPF contribution obligations.

“All employers are required to make their employees’ EPF contributions in accordance with ection 43(1) of the EPF Act. Employers who fail to fulfil their statutory obligation to pay EPF contributions may result in enforcement action, including civil proceedings, criminal prosecution, and restrictions on leaving the country,” he said in a statement on Friday (March 13).

Sazaliza said the EPF enforcement team continuously monitors employers to ensure contributions are paid on time.

“Timely contributions are essential not only in safeguarding employees’ rights but also in ensuring that their retirement savings continue to grow and provide a strong foundation for long-term financial wellbeing,” she said.

He added that the EPF framework also ensures that employers fulfil their responsibility to contribute towards their employees’ retirement savings. Without this statutory mechanism, employees would have limited means to ensure that their employers consistently contribute to their retirement savings.

He also highlighted that from January to December 2025, the EPF had resolved 8,868 contribution arrears cases out of 21,029 complaints lodged by employees, while 12,161 cases remain under investigation and legal action.

“EPF will continue to intensify its enforcement efforts to ensure employers meet their statutory obligations. Employers who fail to do so should expect firm action, as protecting members’ retirement savings remains our priority,” he affirmed.

Sazaliza stressed that employers who fail to meet their statutory obligations may face firm enforcement measures, reiterating that protecting members’ retirement savings remains a key priority for the EPF.

EPF members are encouraged to regularly check their accounts via the EPF i-Akaun application to ensure their employers’ contributions are credited on time and in the correct amount, while employers are also urged to use i-Akaun (Majikan) to review employee lists, contributions made and their payment records. — DayakDaily