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MOM will act on tip-offs about illegal pay pacts

Foreign manpower
  • The Straits Times (24 August 2011) : MOM will act on tip-offs about illegal pay pacts
  • The Straits Times (20 August 2011) : Illegal pay pact: Plug the loopholes
  • The Straits Times (16 August 2011) : My Point: Illegal pay pact

MOM will act on tip-offs about illegal pay pacts
- The Straits Times, 24 August 2011

In her letter (ST Forum, 20 August), Ms Priscilla Poh related a case involving a company she had worked for in 2006. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) would like to clarify that we follow up on tip-offs received related to over-declaration of salaries by employers involving foreigners on Employment Passes. We do not require the EP-holder concerned to make a complaint to MOM in order to launch an investigation. We have contacted Ms Poh directly to clarify this.

Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, false declarations in Work Pass applications are an offence punishable with a fine of up to $15,000 and/or up to 12 months’ jail, or both.

In the first six months of this year, seven employers of EP and S Pass holders have been convicted for the offence. Four employers were jailed between one to six months while three employers were fined between $5,000 and $6,000. The convictions are strong reminders to employers of the seriousness of the offence.

Anyone with information on such offences can call the MOM hotline at (65) 64385122 or email mom_fmmd@mom.gov.sg. Such calls and emails will be kept strictly confidential.

 

Illegal pay pact: Plug the loopholes
- The Straits Times, 20 August 2011

I agree with Mr N. Nagesh ('Illegal pay pact'; Tuesday) on the need for serious enforcement against illegal pay pacts between employers and Employment Pass (EP) holders.

One company I worked for over- declared the salaries of its EP-holders to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore to fill the positions of draughtsmen.

When I discovered it, I reported the matter to MOM and supplied details of the wrongdoing as well.

The ministry replied that it could act only if the EP-holder complained, an answer that goes against common sense: Why would an EP-holder lodge a complaint if he was part of the plot?

If such loopholes are not plugged, imposing tougher conditions like raising qualifying pay levels or requiring more stringent educational qualifications may not necessarily make it harder for employers to hire foreign professionals.

My Point: Illegal pay pact
- The Straits Times, 16 August 2011

'Penalise employers and impose a life ban on the guilty foreigners.'

'What is required is a serious enforcement of the law on foreign professionals to prevent circumvention by unscrupulous employers ('Stricter criteria for foreign professionals'; yesterday). What these bosses do is extract an agreement with their foreign hirings for a lower salary than the officially declared figure, and then pocket the difference. The Manpower Ministry should penalise such employers and impose a life ban on the guilty foreigners.'