Business groups express shock at KL's sudden worker-levy hike

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIAN businesses are urging the government to make a bigger push to legalise the estimated four million illegal workers - saying that Putrajaya could raise far more revenue through the foreign worker levy than the RM2.5 billion (S$846.4 million) it is expected to collect by raising the levy by up to 154 per cent.

Reacting to the hike which took effect on Monday, 55 business organisations issued a statement on Tuesday, expressing shock, deep concern and disappointment at the sudden levy hike; they also called for better management of foreign workers, including the elimination of illegal ones.