Singaporean woman charged with 33 counts of employing foreigners without valid work passes

Of the 33, 27 were migrant domestic workers, five were on work permits for other companies, and one was on a Dependant’s Pass.

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower has charged Ang Peck Leang, a 64-year-old Singaporean woman, with 33 counts of employing foreigners without valid work passes under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).

From 2018 to 2021, Ang allegedly employed 33 foreigners to be part-time cleaners via a chat group on the Viber mobile app. Of the 33, 27 were migrant domestic workers, five were on work permits for other companies, and one was on a Dependant’s Pass; none possessed a valid work pass to be employed as cleaners.

Under the EFMA, any person caught employing a foreign employee without a valid work pass is liable on conviction to:

• a fine of at least S$5,000 and not more than S$30,000, or
• imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or
• both.

Upon conviction, the individual may also be barred from employing foreign employees.

At the same time, foreigners caught working in Singapore without valid work passes may be liable to:

• a fine not exceeding S$20,000, or
• imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or
• both

Upon conviction, they may also be barred from working in Singapore.

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