A 39-year-old former construction worker in Selangor was shocked to learn that his employer had failed to pay any Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for the past seven years, despite monthly deductions shown on his payslip.
According to The Star, the worker believed that RM230 was being deducted from his salary and RM315 contributed by his employer each month. However, when he recently checked his i-Akaun, he discovered his EPF account was completely empty.
"I discovered my employer hadn’t made a single contribution since the very first year. There was no record at all. I nearly broke down," he said.
In total, he lost nearly RM20,000 of his own savings, while the employer is estimated to have evaded over RM40,000 in contributions.
Similar Case Uncovered at Private Hospital
A separate case reported by Xuan involved a 40-year-old nurse at a private hospital, who also discovered her employer had never deposited her EPF contributions, despite deductions listed on her pay stubs.
She found out only after checking her account, and upon speaking with colleagues, learned many others were in the same situation.
“This wasn’t a mistake. It was clearly an organised fraud,” she said.
Although a complaint was filed with the Human Resources Ministry and the employer was fined, none of the affected employees have received their missing funds.
Thousands of Companies and Directors Under Scrutiny for EPF Violations
EPF data reveals the problem may be widespread. Between January and June 2024:
- 12,787 company directors were blacklisted and banned from leaving the country.
- 1,932 civil suits and 2,200 criminal cases were filed against employers for failing to pay EPF.
- Over 13,000 companies are currently under investigation.
These violations are especially common in industries such as construction, healthcare, food services, and hospitality.
EPF Reminds Workers: Check Your Contributions Regularly
Many workers don’t realize they’ve been cheated until years later—often when they leave a job or plan for retirement.
The EPF is urging all employees to monitor their contributions through the i-Akaun platform to catch any discrepancies early. If irregularities are found, members should:
- Contact their employer immediately.
- Report the issue via the EPF website or
- Call the EPF Contact Management Centre at 03-8922 6000.
Your retirement savings are your right—don’t wait until it’s too late to take action.
Source: The Star
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