The Nigerian government has initiated a new policy concerning expatriate employment, imposing strict regulations and significant fines for non-compliance. According to reports, companies found breaching the Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL) policy will face fines of up to N3 million for each offense.
Under this policy, offenses include failure to submit the EEL, neglecting to register an employee, corporate entities not renewing the EEL within 30 days, and providing false information regarding the EEL. The EEL is a financial contribution imposed on employers hiring foreign workers, primarily targeting the offshore earnings of expatriates working in Nigeria. The objective is to foster economic growth and workforce development by ensuring fair contributions from expatriate employment.
President Bola Tinubu officially launched the policy on February 28, 2024, emphasizing its role in closing wage gaps between expatriates and the Nigerian workforce while simultaneously enhancing employment opportunities for qualified Nigerians within foreign companies operating in the country.
The handbook associated with this policy outlines penalties for various offenses, including inaccuracies or incompleteness in information, which could result in fines. Corporate entities failing to file the EEL within 30 days, not registering employees within the same timeframe, or falsifying EEL information may face fines of N3 million each. Additionally, failure to renew the EEL within 30 days also attracts a N3 million fine.
Furthermore, the handbook specifies the required fees for expatriates covered by the EEL, mandating employers to pay $15,000 for directors and $10,000 for other categories of expatriates.
The Ministry of Interior has issued a notice on its website declaring the EEL card as a mandatory document akin to a passport, necessary for expatriates to enter and leave the country. The ministry has set April 15 as the deadline for compliance with the policy.
The notice advises companies to refer to the Handbook and User Manual available on the portal for further details and registration of their company and expatriates. It reiterates that the EEL card is mandatory for lawful entry and exit from the country.
