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MOM's Crackdown: 27 Arrested in Island-Wide Operation for Employment-Related Offenses May 20, 2023 | Foreign Manpower Work Passes and Permits

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conducted a rigorous two-day island-wide enforcement operation spanning May 16 to 17, 2023, resulting in the arrest of 27 individuals suspected of various employment-related offenses. These offenses include illegal employment, fraudulent declarations in work pass applications, and the manipulation of a firm's migrant worker quota by making CPF contributions to Singaporeans not genuinely employed by the company.

MOM's dedicated officers executed raids at 19 different locations, including food stalls, residential areas, and the offices of the accused individuals. These suspects are alleged to have introduced 290 migrant workers into Singapore through deceptive practices. The operation yielded a significant haul, with 80 digital devices like laptops and mobile phones, along with vital payment records, seized as evidence. Ongoing investigations continue to unravel the extent of the offenses committed.

The Operative Method of the Syndicate

This syndicate devised a scheme where CPF contributions were made to Singaporean citizens, known as "phantom workers," to falsely inflate shell companies' quotas for hiring foreign workers. These Singaporean "phantom workers" were never genuinely employed by these companies. Capitalizing on these inflated quotas, the companies then filed work pass applications using false declarations. Consequently, foreign workers entered and remained in Singapore through these illicitly obtained work passes.

Ms. Jeanette Har, Director of Investigation at MOM's Foreign Manpower Management Division, emphasized the seriousness with which MOM regards attempts to circumvent work pass controls. These controls are essential for managing the number and qualifications of foreigners allowed to work in Singapore and for complementing the local workforce. Offenders will be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted accordingly.

Penalties for Illegal Employment and False Declarations

It is imperative for all employers and work pass applicants to provide truthful and accurate information in their work pass applications under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act ("EFMA"). Making false declarations in connection with work pass applications constitutes a severe offense. Convicted offenders face penalties of up to $20,000 in fines, imprisonment of up to 2 years, or both. Errant employers will face work pass privileges suspension, and the work pass applicant may also be prosecuted, potentially leading to permanent ineligibility for working in Singapore.

Employers who engage foreign employees without valid work passes may incur fines ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both, per charge. They will also be barred from hiring foreigners in the future.

Foreigners found working without valid work passes may face fines of up to $20,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Following conviction, they will be permanently barred from seeking employment in Singapore.

MOM encourages members of the public to report any suspicious employment activities, such as companies employing foreigners without valid work passes or individuals receiving CPF contributions from unknown companies. 

Source: The Ministry of Manpower Website


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