Breaking: Unlicensed employment agent fined S$30,000

An unlicensed employment agent, Lim Soo Chye, has fined S$30,000 for placing foreign workers without having a valid employment agency license.
 
In a statement released today, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said that Lim was convicted in the State Courts yesterday for violating the Employment Agencies Act (EAA).
 
Lim had placed 20 foreign workers at various pubs in Singapore, MOM said. He was charged one count of conducting employment agency activities without a valid licence. After pleading guilty, he was fined S$30,000 or two months in jail if he fails to pay.
 
Lim had offered a number of services including submitting online work pass applications to his clients and acted as a minder from July 2011 to April 2012. Finally, he received agency fees of between S$8,000 and S$11,000 from three of the foreign workers.
 
“MOM will not hesitate to prosecute offenders who upon conviction can be fined up to S$80,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 24 months,” the Ministry said.
 
MOM also warned employers about the consequences of using an unlicensed employment agency stating that anyone who does so can be fined up to S$5,000 per charge.