Employer Charged in Court with 59 Counts of Non-Payment of Salary

1. Techcom Construction & Trading Pte Ltd (“Techcom”) and its main contractor Sunway Concrete Products (s) Pte Ltd (“Sunway”) were charged in the Subordinate Courts today for defaulting salary payments to its workers.
2. Techcom faces a total of 59 charges under the Employment Act (EA) for failing to pay its workers salaries on time (within 7 days after the last day of the salary period). The company and its director, one Lim Siew Hiong, also face another 37 charges relating to the collection of ‘kickbacks’ under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).
3. Techcom’s main contractor, Sunway, faces 54 charges under the EFMA for breaching the work pass condition in relation to the timely payment of workers’ salaries.
4. Six other companies were charged today for EA violations. Please refer to Annex for details.
   
   Facts of the Case
5. In February 2012, following claims by a large number of foreign workers from Techcom and Sunway that they had not been paid their salaries since Nov 2011, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) initiated investigations into these companies.
6. MOM’s investigations revealed that the salaries of these foreign workers for the period between September 2011 and December 2011 had not been paid. The salaries owed to these workers ranged from $3,250 to $7,400. Following MOM’s intervention, all outstanding salaries owed to the affected workers were settled.
7. Techcom and its director, one Lim Siew Hiong, are charged with receiving from Techcom’s foreign employees a sum of $300 or $500 each for renewing their work permits. In addition, Lim is charged with intentionally aiding Sunway, in her capacity as director of Techcom, to contravene work pass conditions, by requiring Sunway’s foreign employees to pay a sum of $300 or $500 each for the renewal of their work permits as a condition for continuing to employ them.
   
   MOM would not hesitate to prosecute employers for violations of employment law
8. Mr Quek Jen Juan, Director in MOM’s Labour Relations & Workplaces Division (郭仁运, 人力部劳资关系及福利署署长) said: “All employers have the responsibility to ensure that workers’ salaries are paid on time. It is an employer’s legal and moral obligation to pay their workers as they have put in their time and effort to help the business. Employers are also responsible for ensuring that workers are not subject to detrimental working conditions. While we continue with our strong tripartite efforts to help employers improve their employment practices, MOM would not hesitate to take stern actions against errant employers and contractors that flout or disregard our employment laws.”
9. Workers can lodge their salary claims directly with MOM’s Labour Relations & Workplaces Division by calling 6438 5122.
   
   Know your rights, do it right
10. Employers should ensure that they are familiar with their obligations under Singapore’s employment laws, including the Employment Act, Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and CPF Act. Workers or members of the public can call 1800-221-9922 or email workright@mom.gov.sg to report Employment Act or CPF Act non-compliance. Calls and emails will be kept strictly confidential.