While foreign workers are an important supplement to the local workforce in Singapore, there are clear rules that govern whether a foreigner can be employed as well as the work that they can perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January 2025, MOM issued press releases that highlighted two common types of foreign employment offences. Business owners in Singapore should heed the foreign employment rules \u2013 and these reports serve as reminders of foreign employment practices to avoid at all cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 24 January 2025, MOM reported that it had\u00a0raided 37 locations and arrested 11 individuals<\/a>\u00a0for their suspected involvement in infringing the work pass framework through false declarations of employment in the Construction sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5 of the 11 arrested were Singaporeans aged between 42 and 57, and are Directors of 8 construction companies. The remaining 5 Singaporeans and 2 Singapore PRs were arrested for allegedly abetting the Directors in making false declarations of employment. Another 16 individuals are under investigation for similar offences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 8 construction companies involved had allegedly made CPF contributions to Singaporeans and Singapore PRs who were not under their employment to inflate their quota to hire foreigners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The press release went on to state that all employers and work pass applicants must make accurate and truthful declarations to the Controller of Work Passes, and employers can only hire foreign employees with valid work passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Individuals convicted of making false declarations in work pass applications are liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or both. Errant employers may have their work pass privileges suspended, and the work pass applicants may be barred from working in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone who colludes with an employer by providing their particulars in making fraudulent CPF contributions in order to meet the requirements of Work Permit applications may also be prosecuted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read Also: Complete Guide To Foreign Worker Quota In Singapore: Eligibility And How To Calculate<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Issued on 9 January 2025, MOM\u2019s\u00a0press release<\/a>\u00a0reported that a 31-year-old male Singaporean named Qin Xiaoxi was charged in Court for offences that involved illegal labour importation and false declaration of employment under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was the Director of Xpress Manufacture Pte Ltd and Express Manufacture Pte Ltd, as well as the sole proprietor of Xpress Cleaning & Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qin allegedly obtained work passes for 20 foreigners to work for his Private Limited companies. However, the companies were non-operational and did not require foreign employees, and failed to employ them after their arrival in Singapore. Furthermore, he had declared that 1 other foreigner would be employed by Xpress Manufacture Pte Ltd when there was no intention to employ her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qin has also employed 2 foreigners without valid work passes to work for this sole proprietorship. The 2 foreigners had obtained work passes under his Private Limited companies, as his sole proprietorship did not have quota to hire more foreign employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The press release also stated the penalties for such offences. Anyone convicted of obtaining work passes for foreign employees for a business that does not exist, that is not in operation or does not require the employment of such a foreign employee and fail to employ the foreign employee may be liable to imprisonment of up to 2 years and may be filed up to $6,000 per charge. If convicted of 6 or more charges, caning may also be imposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convicted foreigners who work in Singapore without a valid work pass may be liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000, imprisonment for up to 2 years, or both. MOM will also bar them from working in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n#2 Illegal Labour Importation, False Declaration of Employment and Illegal Employment under the EFMA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n