Federation seeks grace period to implement EPF’s e-Bayar
KUCHING: The Sarawak Business Federation has called on the government to grant a grace period of between six months and a year for the implementation of the Employees Provident Fund ( EPF) e-Bayar system.
Federation secretary- general Jonathan Chai said businesses ought to be given time to adapt to the new policy, which expects all employers to be information technology ( IT) savvy.
“I welcome the policy to be implemented by EPF at the beginning of next year. It serves to reduce the manpower to make payments over the counter. And it will be more convenient and a practical option for those who are busy running their own business to adopt such a mode of payment.
“Having said that, I would like to see that a grace period of six months to a year be granted before the mandatory implementation of such policy. This is so that sufficient time could be given to enable the
I welcome the policy to be implemented by EPF at the beginning of next year. It serves to reduce the manpower to make payments over the counter. And it will be more convenient and a practical option for those who are busy running their own business to adopt such a mode of payment. Jonathan Chai, Federation secretary-general
businesses to get ready to adopt the change, especially some of the traditional SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in the rural areas that are not equipped with the necessary systems to facilitate online payments,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He was commenting on EPF’s new policy that cash will no longer be accepted for employee contributions throughout the country from Jan 2.
Chai, who is also Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry secretarygeneral, noted that almost all major local banks have provided facilities to businesses to facilitate online payments, including EPF contributions.
“It is high time for all business operators to be well equipped with the basic knowledge of IT and take all necessary measures to embrace the development of the digital economy,” he said.
He asserted that the government and telecommunication service providers should see to it that high speed internet service “is readily available” in view of the increasing use of electronic services and online activities.
“This will be a prerequisite to transform our conventional business model and ensure the success of our digital economy,” added Chai.
EPF general manager Azmi Awang recently pointed out that employers nationwide have to make contributions through the e-Bayar system from next year.
He said the e-Bayar system was created to facilitate employers in making payments.
Azmi added that EPF has also instructed all new employers to make employee contributions through the electronic service.