Employment Dispute Cases Due to Abuse of the System by Foreign Workers
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Gan Thiam Poh’s inquiry into the frequency of employment disputes, instances of system abuse by foreign workers, and potential framework enhancements to prevent employer victimisation. Minister Mrs Josephine Teo stated that while approximately 5,000 salary claims were filed annually from 2017 to 2019, only eight cases in 2019 involved workers acting irresponsibly or providing false salary information. Furthermore, eight foreign workers were sanctioned for making false work injury claims during the same period, resulting in legal actions, work pass cancellations, and permanent bans from working in Singapore. Minister Mrs Josephine Teo emphasized that the Ministry of Manpower investigates all claims and takes firm action against false allegations from any party to ensure strong deterrence. The government remains committed to monitoring the situation and encourages parties to resolve misunderstandings through communication to prevent disputes from escalating into system abuse.
Transcript
58 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.
Mrs Josephine Teo: 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.