Review of Fines for Illegal Deployment of Foreign Domestic Workers
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns a proposal by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang to increase the maximum fine for the illegal deployment of foreign domestic workers. Minister of State for Manpower Ms Gan Siow Huang replied that the Government has no current plans to raise the $10,000 administrative penalty cap as case numbers remain stable. She noted that penalties are determined by infringement severity, with past fines for multiple counts ranging from $3,300 to $24,000, and that debarment remains a possible sanction. However, the Ministry of Manpower is reviewing guidelines to potentially replace warnings with financial penalties to strengthen employer responsibility. Minister of State Gan Siow Huang added that the ongoing review involves stakeholder consultations and invited further input from relevant organizations.
Transcript
10 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider increasing the maximum fine for employers who illegally deploy a foreign domestic worker.
The Minister of State for Manpower (Ms Gan Siow Huang) (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, employers who illegally deploy their foreign domestic workers face financial penalty of up to $10,000. They could also be debarred from hiring foreign domestic workers.
While the current administrative financial penalty is capped at $10,000, the eventual penalty takes into consideration the severity of the infringement and number of counts of the infringement that is committed. Between 2017 and 2019, 16 employers were issued with financial penalties each year, ranging from $3,300 to $24,000.
The number of cases of illegal deployment of foreign domestic workers has remained relatively stable over the past few years. We do not plan to review the maximum penalty at the moment. However, we are reviewing the guidelines to see if the cases currently resolved with a warning, should in future be subject to a financial penalty. This is so that employers will take their responsibility towards their foreign domestic workers seriously.
Mr Speaker: Mr Louis Ng.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): Thank you, Sir. I thank the Minister of State for saying that the Ministry will be doing a review. Could I ask how long this review will take? And second, whether the NGOs will be consulted during this review process?
Ms Gan Siow Huang: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon Mr Louis Ng for that question. The review is on-going and we are also in the process of consulting various parties and if Mr Louis Ng has strong views or is in touch with organisations that have views on this, we welcome their input as well.