Employment Dispute Cases Due to Abuse of the System by Foreign Workers

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Manpower (a) in each of the past three years, how many cases of employment disputes have been reported; (b) how many are the result of abuse by the foreign workers; and (c) whether the Ministry will review and enhance the current framework to prevent abuse by foreign workers or to prevent foreign workers from victimising their employers.

From 2017 to 2019, about 5,000 foreign work pass holders each year lodged salary claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM). Where such claims are disputed by employers, TADM will refer them to MOM for investigation. In 2019, MOM identified eight cases where the foreign workers had behaved irresponsibly during the salary claim process, such as making false salary claims or providing false information regarding their salary claims. Employers and workers alike have an obligation to act responsibly towards each other. Given the seriousness of the offence and to ensure strong deterrence, MOM had to cancel the work passes of the workers and impose a permanent ban on them from working in Singapore.

In addition, from 2017 to 2019, MOM took legal actions against eight foreign workers who were found to have made false work injury claims. They were either prosecuted or issued warnings for making false claims and giving false information to the Ministry. All of them were also permanently barred from working in Singapore.

We encourage employers and workers to maintain regular communications and good relations with each other and resolve misunderstandings before they escalate into disputes. MOM follows up on every claim whether they are filed by workers or employers. False allegations by either party are viewed seriously. We will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action.