The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conducted a 15-hour enforcement operation against a construction company suspected of using local phantom workers to inflate its migrant worker quota.
In a Facebook post on Sunday (1 Nov), MOM said two individuals were arrested, while 10 others are assisting in investigations.
Source: Singapore Ministry of Manpower on Facebook
Among those assisting are six people suspected of being phantom workers.
Company executives were also called in for further questioning as part of the operation.
In a video accompanying its Facebook post, MOM said one company executive told investigators that he was “promised a salary and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions to recruit locals as phantom workers”.
Source: Singapore Ministry of Manpower on Facebook
MOM officers also combed through the company’s records for evidence.
The ministry said investigations are ongoing.
Employers who falsely declare and use local phantom workers to inflate their foreign worker quotas face a fine of up to S$20,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
MOM also warned individuals against allowing companies to use their personal particulars to make false CPF contributions.
Source: Singapore Ministry of Manpower on Facebook
Those who do so to help companies inflate their foreign worker quotas may be prosecuted for abetting false declarations.
If convicted, they face a fine of up to S$20,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
“Work pass fraud is a serious offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act,” MOM said.
Other unlawful practices include making fraudulent CPF contributions to phantom workers and submitting false declarations of salaries or employment information in work pass applications.
The ministry added that it has stepped up investigations into suspected cases and will take firm enforcement action against errant parties.
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Featured image from Singapore Ministry of Manpower on Facebook.