Requests made to remove expat workers from Pension Scheme, says Pension Office

Pension Office has said that they have received several requests to remove expat workers from the Pension Scheme, after the bill to overturn the mandatory enrolment of expatriate workers in the pension scheme was passed by parliament yesterday.

This amendment to the Pension Act was submitted to parliament on behalf of the government by Maavah MP Abdul Azeez Jamal Abubakuru. It was passed with 37 votes in favour, 7 votes against, and 7 abstentions.

Director of Pension Office Ismail Sujau told Sun Online that several employers who had enrolled expat workers have now requested to remove them from the Pension Scheme.

Sujau said that not many employers are likely to enrol expat workers in the scheme now that doing so has been made optional.

He said that Pension Office has decided not to accept payment for this month for expats enrolled in the scheme prior to this amendment.

A total of 3,854 expat workers had been enrolled in the Pension Scheme by 31 March 2014.