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MOM fines Singapore-based director for falsely declaring salaries

Tan Boon Sing, company director of KT Engineering & Construction, has been charged for falsely declaring salaries to obtain work passes for 10 foreign employees.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the 51-year-old was charged with 10 counts of the offence.

He pleaded guilty and was fined $21,000 in default nine weeks’ imprisonment for three charges, with the remaining seven charges taken into consideration.

MOM stated that between October 2014 and May 2015, Tan falsely filled out work pass applications by declaring that the monthly salaries of 10 foreign workers were to be $2,200 as to meet the salary requirement for an S Pass, even though he knew they would be paid a lower amount.

Invesigations revealed that the workers were paid $1,400 monthly.

Although the company would issue a cheque for $2,200 monthly to these workers, Tan would then instruct a former employee to collect $800 back in cash.

The workers were told that their work passes would be cancelled and they would be sent home if they didn't comply.

Following MOM’s investigations, Tan has since returned the money collected to all the workers.

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“Tan had falsely declared the salary of the workers so that they could qualify for S Passes. This is a serious offence and we will take strong enforcement action against such employers, including barring them from employing foreign workers," commented Kandhavel Periyasamy, director of employment inspectorate, MOM’s Foreign Manpower Management Division.

Both Tan and his company have been barred from hiring foreign workers.

Image: 123rf 

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