SINGAPORE, June 1 — A 40-year-old Singaporean man was charged in court today with hiring 19 foreigners without valid work passes to work at pasar malams (night markets) in Singapore last year.
Sao Wei Loon hired 19 Indonesian nationals to work as stall assistants at three pasar malams between June 1 and September 16 last year.
The illegal employment ranged from three days to more than three weeks, the Manpower Ministry (MOM) said in a statement today.
If convicted, Sao faces a fine of between S$5,000 and S$30,000 (RM15,489 and RM92,934 ) or up to 12 months’ imprisonment, or both.
He will return to court on June 20.
In a separate case, MOM said a former director and a current director of a logistics company, S K Yap Construction, were convicted on May 2 for conspiring to hire 10 foreign workers without valid work passes.
Lee Beng Choon and Yap Sze Kam were fined SS$79,000 each, in default 33 weeks’ imprisonment. They are also banned from employing foreign workers.
Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, employers are not allowed to hire any foreigner without first obtaining a valid work pass. This includes foreigners working in bazaars or pasar malams, MOM stressed.
The ministry conducts check periodically. — TODAY
* Members of the public with information about illegal employment offences can report the matter to MOM at 6438 5122 or email [email protected].
