Companies that breach the new Expatriate Employment Levy policy will pay N3m for each offence according to the new FG policy.
These offences include failing to file an EEL, failing to register an employee, failing to renew an EEL within 30 days, and giving misleading information about an EEL.
A financial contribution known as the Expatriate Employment Levy is levied against employers who engage in foreign labour.
By guaranteeing fair contributions from foreign employment, the levy—which is mostly levied on the offshore earnings of foreign workers in Nigeria—aims to strike a balance between workforce development and economic growth.
On February 28, 2024, President Bola Tinubu announced the policy.
According to him, the EEL will increase job possibilities for skilled Nigerians in foreign businesses operating in the nation while reducing salary discrepancies between expatriates and the Nigerian labour force.
List of Offense That Can Incure a Fine
However, according to the document, our correspondent saw on Sunday, offences including lying or Incomplete information may result in sanctions.
“A corporate body that fails to file an EEL within 30 days may be fined N3,000,000.
“If an employee is not registered within 30 days, there will be a N3,000,000 punishment.”
“Falsifying information on EEL might result in an N3,000,000 fine.
“A corporate entity faces an N3,000,000 fine if it fails to renew its EEL within 30 days.”
Additionally, the document states that corporations must pay $10,000 for other categories and $15,000 for foreign nationals employed as directors.
It further stated, “Employers of foreign nationals covered by the EEL are required to pay $10,000 for foreign nationals in other categories and $15,000 for directors.”
In a note posted on its website, the Ministry of Interior said that the EEL card is a required paperwork similar to a passport.
It further stated that every foreigner would have to enter and exit the nation.
However, the ministry set April 15 as the deadline for adhering to the policy.
“Please go through the Handbook and User Manual available on the portal for further details and registration of your company and expatriates working with you,” the notice stated in part.
“The deadline for EEL compliance is Monday, April 15, 2024.
Similar to a passport, an EEL card is a necessary document that is needed for both legal entry and leave from the nation.”