KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has enhanced the i-Akaun (Employer) portal with the unveiling of e-Payroll to facilitate employer's statutory obligations, including EPF contribution digitally.
The retirement fund said e-Payroll provides a secure and seamless experience for employers, emphasising automated calculations of statutory deductions and contributions to regulatory bodies.
Chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir said e-Payroll enhances EPF's existing online system i-Akaun following the organisation's acceleration in adopting digital technology.
"The complexity and dynamic of work landscape were the main push for all employers nationwide to benefit from digital technology, which can ease employers' payroll process," he said in a virtual launch of e-Payroll here today.
Ahmad Badri said the Covid-19 pandemic had accelerated the need to adopt digital technology faster with greater accuracy.
"At EPF, we have approached this with our members' interest in mind and have taken the initiative to continuously improve our offerings that would benefit both employers and employees.
"The e-Payroll service is designed to assist small-medium enterprise (SME) users of i-Akaun (Employer) who are not using any payroll solution or do not have the financial means to utilise a payroll solution," he said.
Ahmad Badri said EPF continues to evolve to stay relevant amid the rapid technological advances and dynamic changes in the job landscape.
"Digitalisation will ensure that we can offer the highest level of service while meeting the expectations of our members and employers," he added.
This initiative is in line with EPF's objectives of helping employers, particularly SMEs, fulfilling their obligations to employees while making it easier and seamless for them to operate their businesses.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said almost all industries and businesses would require to adapt to online and digital operations processes digitally.
"The government through related ministries and relevant agencies have worked with major communications service providers to develop a comprehensive digital infrastructure plan in meeting the new needs of the people and businesses," he said.
Tengku Zafrul said this action plan, known as the National Digital Network (Jendela), will be the country's digital communications improvement platform under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
"It will be implemented in phases to expand mobile broadband coverage as well as enhancing mobile broadband speeds," he said.
He said EPF's e-Payroll facility or digital payroll system aligns with the Jendela initiative to support the entire national digital infrastructure plan.
With about RM21 billion allocation over five years, the plan would improve internet connectivity, drive digitalisation, and optimise internet usage, which would help reduce business costs and simplify operations.
"e-Payroll plays an important role in helping employers manage employment records digitally while facilitating the contribution management process.
"For SME or entrepreneurs, the use of e-Payroll initiatives will be able to reduce operating costs and optimise existing human resources while enabling them to focus on business matters such as marketing and so on," he added.
The e-Payroll also provides employers with the capability to digitally store the records of their employees, including salary, helping to enhance process efficiency by reducing the time needed to manage activities related to statutory obligations.
The e-Payroll system was developed in collaboration with and endorsed by the Inland Revenue Board Malaysia (IRBM), Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), and Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp).
This close collaboration will ensure the accuracy and up-to-dateness of statutory requirements in the e-Payroll.
EPF said e-Payroll was well-received by 600 SMEs enrolled in the pilot test and soft launch recently.