Employers Receiving Kickbacks from Migrant Workers

24 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower in each of the last five years, in respect of the investigated cases where employers are alleged to have received kickbacks from migrant workers, how many and what percentage involved are found to have received kickbacks (i) prior to or at the point the worker started employment (ii) in the course of employment and (iii) at the point of renewal of work passes.

Dr Tan See Leng: The point at which kickbacks were collected, be it at the start of the migrant worker’s employment or at the point of work pass renewal, does not impact the enforcement action taken against errant parties. As such, although such information could be recorded as part of investigation, MOM does not track data on the point at which kickbacks were collected. Our broad estimate is that the number of kickback cases investigated is about evenly split between those at the start of the worker’s employment and those at the point of renewal of work passes.

The collection of kickbacks as a condition or guarantee of employment is an offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA). Migrant workers who have paid or been asked to pay kickbacks to anyone for employment should approach MOM for assistance.