Malayan Council founder fined for work pass breaches

The founder of The Malayan Council has been sentenced to 29 weeks of imprisonment and fined $22,000 for various work pass breaches.

Mohamad Hafiz Bin Salim Alkhatib, 38, was sentenced by the State Courts for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Hafiz made 13 S-Pass or Employment Pass applications for workers and had falsely declared higher salaries so they could meet the criteria under the respective work passes.

He also attempted to make the workers lie or retract their initial statements to MOM on two occasions during the probe.

MOM stated that he also illegally employed two employees as dishwashers without a valid work pass, as well as deducting $1,700 from a worker's salary as a condition for employment.

Violations under EFMA

In a report from The Straits Times, Hafiz circumvented the required manpower quota under the work permits by hiring 13 foreign workers through an agent.

He also paid them between $1,400 and $1,600 a month, much lower than the required salary that should be paid to S Pass and Employment Pass holders.

According to the report, The Malayan Council founder tried to make three workers lie to MOM that they were paid the falsely declared salaries. The workers, however, did not obey him and alerted MOM of his attempts.

Hafiz pleaded guilty to 15 charges under EFMA. Twenty-six other charges were also considered in his sentence.

"Employers must uphold the integrity of our employment laws," MOM said on a Facebook post. "Employers who contravene the EFMA risk fines and imprisonment."