Oral Answer by Senior Minister of State for Manpower Dr Koh Poh Koon to PQ on Kickback related offenses
NOTICE PAPER NO. 1009 OF 2022 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 1 MAR 2022
QUESTION NO. 2562 FOR ORAL ANSWER
MP: MR LOUIS NG KOK KWANG
To ask the Minister for Manpower, for each year between 2016 and 2020, of the employers issued with warnings, composition fines or charged with kickback offences, how many workers have these employers been found to have collected kickbacks from.
NOTICE PAPER NO. 1009 OF 2022 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 2 MAR 2022
QUESTION NO. 2567 FOR ORAL ANSWER
MP: MR LOUIS NG KOK KWANG
To ask the Minister for Manpower in each year over the past ten years and for those migrant workers whose employers are found to be collecting kickbacks, what is the respective breakdown on the number and percentage of workers who (i) find new jobs on their own (ii) find new jobs through the Ministry’s facilitation with organisations such as the Migrant Worker Centre and (iii) are repatriated.
NOTICE PAPER NO. 1028 FOR 2022 FOR THE SITTING ON 7 MAR 2022
QUESTION NO. 1642 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
MP: MR LOUIS NG KOK KWANG
To ask the Minister for Manpower for each year between 2016 and 2020, what is the average amount of kickback paid by each migrant worker to their employers who were issued with warnings, composition fines or charged for kickback offences.
Answer
1 The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) takes stern action against employers or any other party who collect kickbacks from migrant workers as a condition or guarantee of employment.
2 Between 2016 and 2020, MOM took enforcement action against an average of 102 errant employers for collecting kickbacks from migrant workers. On average, there were about 5 migrant workers affected per employer. While the amount of kickbacks paid by each migrant worker to errant employers were recorded as part of investigation, MOM does not track this data in a structured manner. The typical amount of kickbacks paid by migrant workers could range from $1,000 to $3,000.
3 Once a kickback is being investigated, employers will not be allowed to repatriate the affected workers. To further support migrant workers who are victims of kickbacks, MOM refers them to employment agency partners who will help to facilitate a change of employer for those who wish to continue to work in Singapore. These employment agencies are committed not to charge the affected migrant workers any fees. This would assure workers that they can continue to stay here to earn an income when they report their employers for the collection of kickbacks. MOM will also require the accused to return the kickbacks collected to the affected workers.
4 Between 2016 and 2020, about 20% of the affected migrant workers found new employment and about 30% chose to continue working for their current employer after the kickback issues were resolved. For the remaining workers, they chose to return home.
5 In recent years, MOM has made use of data analytics to identify and detect unusual patterns in hiring practices to better detect cases of kickbacks. However, it is more effective if workers come forward to report such malpractices. MOM has also utilised data mining capabilities to strengthen evidence gathering and better enable MOM to take enforcement action against errant employers.
6 On the education and engagement front, MOM has stepped up our efforts to educate and engage migrant workers. For example, the topic on kickbacks is covered in the mandatory Settling-In Programme for first time work permit holders, and MOM has published Facebook posts on identifying and reporting kickbacks which are also transmitted to MWs through the FWMOMCare app. Migrant workers who are asked to pay kickbacks, should immediately approach MOM for assistance. MOM will investigate and take all complaints and whistleblowing seriously