Companies that violate the new Expatriate Employment Levy policy introduced by President Bola Tinubu will be fined N3 million for each offense.
The offenses for which companies could be fined include not submitting the EEL, failing to register an employee, not renewing the EEL within 30 days, and providing false information regarding the EEL.
The Expatriate Employment Levy is a fee imposed on employers who hire foreign workers.
The levy, which primarily targets the offshore earnings of expatriates working in Nigeria, aims to promote economic growth and workforce development by ensuring fair contributions from expatriate employment.
President Bola Tinubu introduced the policy on February 28, 2024. He explained that the EEL aims to reduce the wage disparities between expatriates and Nigerian workers, as well as create more job opportunities for qualified Nigerians in foreign companies in Nigeria.
However, a handbook seen by our correspondent on Sunday mentioned that violations such as providing incorrect or insufficient information could result in penalties.
“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 N3,000,000 fine.”
As per the handbook, companies are expected to pay $15,000 for expatriates employed as directors and $10,000 for other categories.
“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.
The Ministry of Interior posted a notice on its website stating that the EEL card is a mandatory document similar to a passport.
It mentioned that the card will be necessary for expatriates to enter and exit the country.
The ministry has set April 15 as the deadline for compliance with this policy.
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.”
