The federal government has announced that Companies that violate the new expatriate employment levy (EEL)policy would be fined N3 million for each infraction.
The offences are not submitting Expatriate Employment Levy, not registering an employee, a corporate body failing to renew their Expatriate Employment Levy within 30 days, and providing incorrect information on Expatriate Employment Levy.
The Expatriate Employment Levy is a financial contribution required of employers who hire overseas workers.
The levy, which is primarily imposed on the offshore profits of expatriates working in Nigeria, seeks to balance economic growth and workforce development by guaranteeing equal contributions from expatriate employment.
President Bola Tinubu launched the policy on February 28, 2024.
He added that the EEL would reduce salary disparities between expatriates and Nigerian workers while enhancing job chances for skilled Nigerians in foreign enterprises operating in the country.
However, the guidebook seen by our correspondent on Sunday stated that violations such as erroneous or incomplete information could result in fines.
“Failure of a corporate entity to file EEL within 30 days is liable to a fine of N3,000,000.
“Failure to register an employee within 30 days will attract a fine of N3,000,000.
“Falsification of information on EEL is liable to a fine of N3,000,000.
“Failure of a corporate entity to renew EEL within 30 days attracts a N3,000,000 fine.”
According to the policy, corporations are supposed to pay $15,000 for expatriates working as directors and $10,000 for other positions.
“Employers of expatriates covered by the EEL are required to pay $15,000 for directors and $10,000 for other categories of expatriates,” it added.
In a note posted on its website, the Ministry of Interior declared that the EEL card, like a passport, is a necessary document.
It further stated that any expatriate will be obliged to leave and enter the nation.
However, the ministry set an April 15 deadline for compliance with the directive.
The notice partly read, “For further details and registration of your company and expatriates working with you, kindly go through the Handbook and User Manual available on the portal.
“The last date of compliance with EEL is Monday, April 15, 2024.
“An EEL card is a mandatory document like a passport and will be required at the time of lawful exit and entry into the country.”
