Foreign workers to pay levy instead of employers with immediate effect

With the introduction of minimum from RM600 - RM700 per month to RM900 monthly, the Cabinet has decided that foreign workers to pay levy instead of employers with immediate effect. Read The Star article below:


PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet decided on Wednesday that foreign workers should pay the levy instead of employers.

The decision is to be enforced with immediate effect on new foreign workers and those who wish to renew their work pass, employment pass or temporary work visit pass.

The move is to alleviate the hiring cost for employers, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

“The minimum wage, which came into force this year has raised the salary for all workers on an average of between 30% and 50%, or from RM600- RM700 per month to RM900 monthly.

“The Government's move to impose a levy on foreign workers will not be a burden to them as the levy paid is between RM34.16 and RM154.16 per month as compared to a salary increase of between RM300 to RM500 per month,” Ahmad Husni said in a statement Wednesday.

The collection of levy for foreign workers was introduced in 1992 and was fully borne by the workers until 2009 when the Government decided to shift the levy burden to employers.

The 2009 decision was aimed at controlling the increase in the number of foreign workers in the country at that time.


MCA President, Dr Chua Soi Lek, is also pursuing the proposal to the Human Resources Ministry that foreign workers pay their own levy, transport and housing costs as a way of easing the burden on industries following the implementation of the minimum wage policy.

Johor set to become an international film-making hub

The southern state of Peninsula Malaysia, Johor, has seen much development in the last few years. In future, you will see movies that will be shot in studios in that area. Read The Star article below:

JOHOR BARU: Johor is set to become an international film-making hub in the region with the opening of the Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios (PIMS) in Nusajaya this May.

PIMS chief executive officer Michael Lake said Tuesday that nine film production companies from Australia, Germany, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the USA had expressed keen interest in doing their pre-production shooting at the studio.

He said two feature films and three telemovies for international audiences would be produced at the studio in the first year but declined to give more details.


View Larger Map

Malaysian corporations bidding for UK Stansted Airport

Malaysia may be a small nation but Malaysian corporations have acquired huge assets in other countries. Following last year's acquisition by the SP Setia-Sime Darby-Employees Provident Fund consortium of the Battersea Power Station project, yet another bid has been made to acquire another iconic UK asset, the Stansted Airport, the third busiest in London and fourth busiest in Britain.

YTL Corp Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) are putting together a firm bid for London's Stansted Airport in an 80:20 equity structure, sources told StarBiz, confirming earlier reports.

The low-cost carrier terminal is being offered for sale by UK airports operator Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, formerly BAA, to satisfy competition concerns after a four-year battle with regulators. The reported figure is £1bil (RM5bil).

More: The Star.. YTL, MAHB in combined offer for RM5b UK airport

Fee raised for Indonesian maids

Employers will have to pay more to employ an Indonesian maid or domestic-worker.

The Star reported that:

The Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) has been given the green light by the Government to increase the fee structure for Indonesian domestic workers to RM6,700.

This is a RM2,189 increase from the RM4,511 agreed to in the memorandum of understanding signed between the Malaysian and Indonesian governments in 2011.

Papa president Jeffrey Foo, who announced this yesterday, said that besides the new fee, employers would also have to pay RM1,800 upfront as salary advance.
More..Fee structure for Indonesian maids to be raised to RM6,700

Happy New Year 2013 from Malaysia!

Here's wishing You a Very Happy New Year and may the new year bring with it new hopes and good tidings!

Like everywhere around the world, Kuala Lumpur saw revellers and fireworks ushering in the new year.

At Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC..

Source: The Star
More on Happy New Year 2013 Celebrations in Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere