Former Director of Harry's Fined $40,000 for Falsely Declaring Salaries in Work Pass Applications

1. In the State Courts today, the former Vice-President of Human Resources of Harry’s International Pte Ltd, Parmjit Kaur, pleaded guilty to charges¹ of consenting to the offence of making false declaration of salary in work pass applications.
2. The 49-year-old Singaporean was convicted in Court and sentenced to a fine of $40,000.
   
   About the Case
3. Investigations revealed that between April and September 2013, Parmjit, in her capacity then as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) and subsequently the Vice-President of Human Resources², instructed her subordinate to declare the fixed monthly salaries of 20 foreign employees as $3,100, to meet the minimum salary requirement needed to obtain Employment Passes (EPs).
4. However, she knew that the company only intended to pay the foreign employees a monthly salary that was below the minimum salary requirement of the EP. Based on the false information provided to the Controller of Work Passes, the 20 EP applications were approved and the EPs were issued to the foreign employees.
5. The foreign employees were issued Letters of Offer for the position of Chef de Partie, stating that they would be paid a monthly salary of $3,100. However, they would have to reimburse the company $1,600 for meals and transportation, a day after receiving their salary in their bank accounts. In fact, the meals and transportation were provided only to some employees, and where provided, the actual cost was less than $1,600. The reimbursement practice continued for several months.
   
   MOM Takes a Serious View of False Salary Declaration Offences
6. Commenting on the case, Mr Kandhavel Periyasamy, Director of Employment Inspectorate at MOM’s Foreign Manpower Management Division said, “Providing false declaration of S Pass and EP salaries is a serious offence. We will take stern action against persons or companies, including barring them from applying for new work passes and renewing their existing work passes.”
7. Since 2014, a total of 39 employers have been convicted for false salary declaration offences.
   
   Employers Must Make Truthful Declarations
8. All employers must make accurate, complete and truthful declarations to the Controller in their work pass applications.
9. Making false declarations to the Controller is an offence. Upon conviction, employers can be fined up to $20,000 and/or jailed for up to two years under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA). They will also be barred from employing new foreign workers and renewing their existing foreign workers.
10. Members of the public who know of persons or employers who contravene the EFMA should report the matter to MOM at Tel: (65) 6438 5122 or email mom_fmmd@mom.gov.sg. All information will be kept strictly confidential.