Persons arrested for providing false employment information to MOM

11 individuals arrested for providing false employment information to MOM

On 21 January 2025, officers from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) raided 37 locations and arrested 11 individuals for their suspected involvement in infringing the work pass framework through false declarations of employment in the Construction sector. Among those arrested were five Singaporeans between the ages of 42 and 57, who are Directors of eight construction companies. The remaining four Singaporeans and two Permanent Residents were arrested for allegedly abetting the Directors in making false declarations of employment. Besides these 11 suspects who have been arrested, another 16 individuals are under investigation for similar offences.

2 These eight construction companies had allegedly made Central Provident Fund (“CPF”) contributions to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who were not under their employment in order to inflate their quota to hire foreigners. Some of these Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are suspected to have been approached by the Directors for their personal details in return for monetary incentives.

Penalties for Employment Offences

3 Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 (EFMA), all employers and work pass applicants must make accurate and truthful declarations to the Controller of Work Passes. Employers can only hire foreign employees with valid work passes.

4 Individuals convicted of making false declarations in work pass applications are liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both. Errant employers may have their work pass privileges suspended, and the work pass applicant may be barred from working in Singapore. Anyone who colludes with an employer by providing his particulars for use in making fraudulent CPF contributions in order to meet the requirements of Work Permit applications may also be prosecuted.

5 Members of the public who are aware of illegal employment activities, or who know of persons or employers who may have contravened the EFMA, should report the matter to MOM via MOM’s eService “Report an infringement”. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential. Members of the public are also reminded to be vigilant and avoid widely disclosing their personal details to others.