Updates on Recent Cases Involving Bangladesh Workers
In response to recent media reports of foreign workers not being given work and not receiving pay, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) would like to clarify that employers must pay the salaries of their workers, regardless of whether the workers have work, or cannot be deployed temporarily due to lack of required skills or qualifications.
2. In this regard, MOM held a meeting with management representatives from Sans Marine Engineering Service, Han's Marine and K7 Engineering, who have committed to pay the outstanding salaries of some 50 Bangladeshi workers. Investigations are still on-going with regard to the other complaints from the workers. In the interim, these companies will be barred from hiring more foreign workers until the cases are resolved.
3. Failure to pay salaries is an offence under the Employment Act. Employers who fail to pay their employees could be fined up to $1,000 per charge for first time offenders. For repeat offenders, the fine is up to $2,000 per charge, or a jail term not exceeding one year or both.
4. MOM will take to task companies who knowingly recruit foreign workers when there is no work for them, including taking prosecution action. MOM will also debar such errant employers from hiring new foreign workers, as well as revoke all existing work permits applied for by the company.