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Ministry of Manpower prohibit employer to demand or receive work work permit and s pass from foreign worker because such practices increase the debt burden and compromise the welfare of foreign workers. The new conditions will make clear to employers that engaging in such malpractices constitute an offence.
Mr. Phaithoon Kaeothong, Ministry of Labour, revealed that he was informed from Singapore Labour Office that Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced new conditions on issuing work permit and s pass to foreign workers prohibiting the employer to receive money from foreign workers as a condition as consideration or as a condition for employing the foreign employee or recovering employment-related costs from foreign workers, A new licence condition will also be introduced to prohibit employment agencies from offering payment to employers, in exchange for hiring foreign workers through them. The new conditions will make clear to employers and employment agencies that engaging in such malpractices constitute an offence in order to prevent profiteering from such employment.
In this regard, Such practices increase the debt burden and compromise the welfare of foreign workers. The new conditions will make clear to employers and employment agencies that engaging in such malpractices constitute an offence.
Such conditions will be effective from 14 July 2008, it is an offence for employers to receive any form of payment whether monetary or in kind from a Work Permit holder or employment agent as consideration for the employment of the Work Permit holder. Employers are also prohibited from recovering employment-related expenses such as the levy and security bond, from their Work Permit holders. These new conditions will also apply to employers of S Pass holders. Errant employers who breach the new Work Permit and S Pass conditions will be fined and/or imprisoned under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
Regarding the employment- related expense include fees associated with application, issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of the Work Permit or S Pass, costs associated with furnishing a security deposit required by MOM, costs associated with medical insurance required by MOM, costs associated with medical examination required by MOM, foreign worker levy payments required by MOM, costs associated with training a foreign employee, where the training is provided by employer or required by MOM, or, repatriation costs.
Any interested person can contact Ministry o International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Manpower, tel 02-232-1359. |
