3 firms barred from hiring foreign workers till salary disputes settled

Written by Writer on Monday, October 13th, 2008

3 firms barred from hiring foreign workers till salary disputes settled

SINGAPORE: Three companies, which have outstanding salary disputes with 50 of their Bangladeshi workers, are barred from hiring more foreign workers until the cases are resolved.

The Manpower Ministry (MOM) identified them as Sans Marine Engineering Service, Han’s Marine and K7 Engineering.

At the same time, the ministry said it would take to task companies that knowingly recruit foreign workers when there is no work for them. This could lead to prosecution.

MOM will also bar such errant employers from hiring new foreign workers, as well as revoke all existing work permits applied for by the company.

The tough response followed media reports on the plight of Bangladeshi workers who have found themselves jobless and penniless after arriving in Singapore.

MOM said employers must pay the salaries of their workers, regardless of whether the workers have work or cannot be deployed temporarily due to lack of required skills or qualifications.

Employers who fail to do so could be fined up to S$1,000 per charge for first—time offenders. For repeat offenders, the fine is up to S$2,000 per charge or a jail term of up to a year or both.