Five men convicted of illegally employing foreign workers in Singapore

: Five men in Singapore have been convicted after illegally employing foreign workers for their food stalls at temporary fairs, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

In a media release, MOM said all five men were fined, while two were handed prison sentences for violating the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 (EFMA).

All 19 foreign workers employed by the individuals convicted have also been banned from working in Singapore, according to MOM.

Sao's case

The biggest fine was handed to 47-year-old Sao Wei Loon, who was convicted and sentenced on October 3 to two months of imprisonment and a fine of $45,000.

According to MOM, Sao illegally employed 11 foreign workers for his food stalls at a temporary fair located outside Hillion Mall.

"Sao eventually hired 11 foreign workers who were on social visit passes and did not apply for work passes for any of them," MOM said in its media release.

Eng Kita, Eng Hock case

In another case, brothers Ker Eng Kiat and Key Eng Hock have also been convicted for illegally employing six foreign workers for their food stalls between March and April 2023.

"The six foreign workers were on social visit passes and did not have valid work passes to work as stall assistants," MOM said.

Eng Kita and Eng Hock also did not provide proper lodging to the employees they hired, according to the ministry.

"Some of the foreign workers had slept on the floor of the food stalls stall they worked at, after the stalls closed for the day," MOM said.

Eng Kiat has been sentenced to a month of imprisonment and handed a fine of $23,000 for hiring five of the six illegal foreign workers. Eng Hock was fined $6,000 for illegally employing one of the foreign workers.

Tan, Yong Sen case

In a separate case, Eng Kiat and Eng Hock's younger brother, Ker Yong Sen, was also convicted for engaging in a conspiracy to hire two foreign workers without valid work passes.

Yong Sen was convicted with Tan Hoe Soon after investigations revealed they hired the foreign workers for their food stall to prepare and sell food products.

"Both foreign workers were on social visit passes and did not have valid work passes to work as stall assistants," MOM said, adding that both employees were also not provided proper lodging.

Yong Sen and Tan were handed fines of $8,500 each for their violations, according to MOM. 

Singapore's EFMA states that individuals caught employing a foreign worker without a valid work pass can be fined between $5,000 and $30,000. They may also be liable to a prison term not exceeding 12 months.

Second or subsequent convictions can be fined between $10,000 and $30,000. They can also be imprisoned by not more than 12 months, according to the law, as cited by MOM.