EPF’s i-Sayang scheme remains voluntary amid growing participation

i-SAYANG, an initiative under the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) that allows husbands to transfer part of their retirement savings to their wives, will continue as a voluntary scheme for the time being despite rising uptake and calls to strengthen women’s financial security in old age.

Furthermore, the EPF said making i-Sayang compulsory is complex and would require changes to family law frameworks.

"At this juncture, the Government maintains i-Sayang as a voluntary contribution initiative.

“Any move toward mandating i-Sayang would require comprehensive stakeholder engagement and rigorous impact assessments, considering wage levels, employment structures, legal implications, system readiness, public awareness, and effective implementation," EPF told Sinar Daily.

The fund stressed that strengthening women’s retirement security requires a holistic approach that spans income protection, labour participation, caregiving responsibilities and adequate retirement savings.

A mandatory system would also need to align with civil, state and family laws and ensure marital records are accurate, particularly in cases of divorce or reconciliation.

As at December 2025, a total of 187,400 husbands signed up for i-Sayang, contributing a total of RM371.3 million. The EPF noted contributions grew 97 per cent over the past year, nearly doubling in value.

While the impact on retirement savings is modest, the EPF stressed its importance for participating households.

"These contributions provide a targeted boost to retirement savings. The automated monthly transfer mechanism supports consistent contributions, which is critical for long-term retirement security," the EPF said.

For housewives without personal income, the transfers provide a foundational savings base, as balances often start near zero.

Based on the December 2025 median monthly wage of RM2,764, a 2 per cent transfer amounts to roughly RM55 per month credited to a spouse’s EPF account.

Assuming an average annual dividend rate of per cent, EPF projects cumulative savings of approximately RM22,300 over 20 years and RM44,900 over 30 years.

"It is important to clarify that a two per cent spousal transfer alone is not intended to prevent old-age poverty. Rather, i-Sayang is designed to narrow gender gaps in retirement savings," the EPF said.

Making i-Sayang mandatory or auto-default would also require amendments to the EPF Act 1991 and related regulations. Although the automated monthly transfer system is in place, challenges related to policy, legal matters and implementation persist

The EPF emphasised that i-Sayang is not a standalone solution but one component of a wider suite of retirement measures. Other voluntary initiatives include i-Suri, i-Simpan, i-Topup, i-Saraan and i-Saraan Plus, all designed to enhance retirement income security.

"The Government adopts a ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to strengthening retirement security," the EPF said.