MOM Special Operation results in MES Group of Companies and their Directors being charged for various employment offences

1. In 2019, acting on a tip-off, the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM”) mounted a special operation to probe allegations of illegal conduct at the MES Group of companies.

2. Three companies and their directors face 553 charges for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (“EFMA”) and the Employment Act (“EA”). These include charges for false declaration of employment, false declaration of salaries, illegally employing foreigners without valid work passes and excessive overtime hours.

3. The companies and their directors being charged include:

No.	Companies
1	Mini Environment Service Pte Ltd (“Mini Environment Service”)
2	Labourtel Management Corporation Pte Ltd (“Labourtel”)
3	MES Logistics Pte Ltd (“MES Logistics”)

No.	Directors
1	Chew Chain Loon (56-year-old Singaporean)
2	Fathimunnisa d/o Mohamed Abdul Jaleel (37-year-old Singaporean)
3	Haja Nawaz (52-year-old Singaporean)
4	Parvis Ahmed S/O Mohamed Ghouse, (44-year-old Singaporean)
5	Mohamed Jinna S/O Mohamed Abdul Jaleel (38-year-old Singaporean)

*Please refer to the court documents on the breakdown of charges against the companies and their directors.

Case Details

4. The investigation revealed that between November 2009 and 22 May 2019, Mini Environment Service had allegedly deployed its workers to work for Labourtel and MES Logistics without valid work passes. The directors and companies are also charged for abetting and making false salary and employment declarations in the companies’ work pass applications. Mini Environment Service also allegedly made its employees work beyond the permitted overtime hours stipulated under the EA between March and May 2019.

5. The case against the directors and companies will be heard again in Court 4B on 8 April 2021 at 9.15am.

MOM WILL TAKE STERN ACTION AGAINST ERRANT EMPLOYERS

6. Mr Kevin Teoh, Divisional Director of MOM’s Foreign Manpower Management Division, said, “We would like to commend the whistle blower for his willingness to step forward, and the witnesses for their cooperation. MOM takes a serious view of such allegations and continues to be vigilant in our surveillance and enforcement efforts. We will take strong enforcement action against offending parties.”

7. Under the EFMA, the punishment for illegal employment is a fine of between $5,000 to $30,000, or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both. For making a false statement or providing false information in any application or renewal of a work pass, the punishment is a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment for up to two years, or both.

8. Under the EA, offences involving excessive overtime is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. For any subsequent offence, an offender shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

9. Members of the public who have any information on EFMA and EA infringements should report the matter to MOM via the MOM website (www.mom.gov.sg) under “Contact us” or call 6438 5122. All information will be kept strictly confidential.