SINGAPORE – Seventeen people have been arrested for their suspected involvement in employment-related offences following raids at multiple locations on Sept 2, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Sept 4.
Among those arrested are five male Singaporeans, aged between 31 and 37, who are current or former sole proprietors of seven public entertainment outlets.
A 34-year-old Singaporean woman, the key appointment holder of an employment agency here, was also arrested.
MOM said that these six are suspected to be part of a syndicate that had allegedly hired foreign performers for non-operational public entertainment outlets. The foreigners were suspected to have been later released to work as freelance hostesses in other public entertainment outlets.
The remaining 11 people arrested were female work permit holders who were allegedly involved in making false declarations in work pass applications. Their work permits have been revoked, the ministry said.
Investigations are ongoing, it added.
MOM said it has also revoked the work passes of another 42 foreigners who were employed by the seven shell public entertainment outlets under investigation. The employment agency’s licence has also been suspended pending investigations.
MOM said that it regularly checks on Work Permit (Performing Artiste) holders, and is reviewing the scheme, “in view of the abuses by non-operating public entertainment outlets”.
The scheme is intended for the employment of foreign performers to work only in eligible public entertainment outlets for up to six months.
Employers can hire only foreign workers with valid work passes. Both employers and applicants must make accurate, complete and truthful declarations to the Controller of Work Passes.
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