Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower reaffirms action against those who accept kickbacks as a guarantee of employment

The point at which kickbacks were collected, be it at the start of the migrant worker’s employment or at the point of work pass renewal, does not impact the enforcement action taken against errant parties.

Singapore’s MP Louis Ng posed Parliamentary questions to Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng on trends among employers identified to be receiving kickbacks from migrant workers.

To that, Minister Tan shared on Tuesday (3 August 2021), that according to the Ministry’s estimate, the number of kickback cases investigated is about evenly split between those at the start of the worker’s employment and those at the point of renewal of work passes.

Minister Tan, however, reiterated that whichever point the kickbacks were received has no bearings on the enforcement action taken against errant parties.

“As such, although such information could be recorded as part of investigation, MOM does not track data on the point at which kickbacks were collected,” Minister Tan added.

The collection of kickbacks as a condition or guarantee of employment is an offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA). As such, he urged any migrant workers who have paid or been asked to pay kickbacks to approach the Ministry for Manpower for assistance.

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