7-11 stores charged for falsely declaring 41 FTs

[Baal]

http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/04/12/employers-agents-charged-for-falsely-declaring-41-fts-salaries/

 

 

7-11 stores charged for falsely declaring 41 FTs’ salaries

April 12th, 2014 | Author: Editorial

MOM currently investigating other similar false declaration cases involving 256 foreigners hired by 93 employers

 

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) issued a statement

 

 

yesterday (11 Apr) saying that it has charged 8 employers and 2 employment agents for falsely declaring the salaries of foreign employees to the Controller of Work Passes.

 

The 8 employers are franchisees of local convenience chain store 7-Eleven. Of the 2 employment agents charged, one is a 28-year-old Singaporean director of Ethics Career Solution, and the other is a 32-year-old Indian national working in the same company.

 

The 10 allegedly made false declarations between 11 November 2010 and 11 September 2013 in connection with applications for 41 foreign employees:

 

 

• 35 EP holders
• 6 S Pass holders

 

 

One of the criteria for MOM granting an EP or S Pass is that the foreign applicant must meet the minimum salary requirement. Investigations revealed that the 8 employers declared in the application for work passes that they would pay the 41 foreigners salaries ranging from $2,400 to $4,550.

 

However, the employers allegedly intended to pay the foreigners much less than the salaries declared. The employers had thus committed an offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA) of furnishing false information to MOM.

 

MOM’s investigations showed that the 2 employment agents of Ethics Career Solution, which facilitated the placement of 21 of the 41 foreign employees, submitted false salary information in the work pass application forms. They are also charged with furnishing false information.

 

Of the 8 employers, 7 have pleaded guilty to the charges. They were fined between $8,000 or in default 4 weeks’ jail, and $56,000 or in default 42 weeks’ jail. The remaining employer has his case adjourned to 8 May 2014. One of the employment agents was fined $22,000 or in default 8 weeks’ jail while the other was fined $40,000 or in default 15 weeks’ jail.

 

In February 2014, MOM took action against the 41 foreign employees involved in the false salary declaration scam. Some of them had their much lower salaries paid in cash, while some returned cash amounts ranging between $600 and $3,350 per month to their employers, after having their stated salary credited into their bank account.

 

All were charged in court in February 2014.

 

Of the 41 accused, 37 were fined between $5,000 and $7,000 or in default 5 weeks’ and 7 weeks’ imprisonment respectively, while 4 cases are still being heard. Those found guilty will be permanently banned from working in Singapore.

 

The following is a sample of employers and foreigners involved in the false salary declaration scam:

 

 

 

 

MOM said prosecution of the parties involved in the above cases is part of MOM’s continual enforcement efforts against circumvention of the work pass framework.

 

MOM is currently investigating other similar false declaration cases involving 256 foreigners hired by 93 employers. MOM has stepped up on enforcement in this area following the raising of maximum penalties for false declaration under EFMA in November 2012.

 

Offenders will be severely dealt with – if convicted, they can be fined up to $20,000, and/or jailed up to 2 years.

 

Members of the public who know of persons or employers who contravene EFMA should phone MOM at (65) 6438 5122 or email [email protected]. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

 

[Kangadrool]

tsk tsk tsk......

 

speechless......

[Icedbs]

very foolish.......this kind sure get caught one.

 

The other group are those who doesn't pay employer CPF.

Edited April 14, 2014 by Icedbs

[StefanK]

Sad to say... even for that kind of actual pay the foreigners were receiving, it would have been difficult to get Singaporeans...

[Mcf777]

so many restaurants doing similar thing.

 

pay high salary....under table give low salary. balance goes into boss pocket s extra allowances. all paid in cash to avoid any problem.

 

MOM staff should work OT to nab these FT!

[Vega]

cheat ah gong money. can wash clean clean go in liao.

[Hydrocarbon]

so many restaurants doing similar thing.

 

pay high salary....under table give low salary. balance goes into boss pocket s extra allowances. all paid in cash to avoid any problem.

 

MOM staff should work OT to nab these FT!

 

Nab the boss / employment agents first!

 

Looking at the declared salary at application, I don't think cannot find Singaporeans for such jobs. Store manager, Senior Store Manager, Customer Service Manager, etc..

[Kangadrool]

No jail sentence was imposed leh. Only fined cheap cheap only.

 

The question now is, what happened to the employees and returned salaries. So, after kena fined, can continue to .......????? Work Pass????

 

 

cheat ah gong money. can wash clean clean go in liao.

 

[Mcf777]

I think now people will think twice to francaise 711....smelly name in MOM record.

[Jman888]

I think now people will think twice to francaise 711....smelly name in MOM record.

 

 

franchise people will still take, you ask your sister brother auntie uncle to help and dun hire any out people lor

 

 

that Bojarajan Gobinath sibei suay, declare $4500 only get $1150

Edited April 14, 2014 by Jman888

[Kangadrool]

Doesn't make sense to pay someone a large sum of $$$ upfront, then still must "help" them to run the store. Further, everything must buy from them.

 

What kind of business is this?

 

Think hard hard again if you still want to run any franchise.

 

I think now people will think twice to francaise 711....smelly name in MOM record.

 

Edited April 14, 2014 by Kangadrool

[Mustank]

 

 

franchise people will still take, you ask your sister brother auntie uncle to help and dun hire any out people lor

 

 

that Bojarajan Gobinath sibei suay, declare $4500 only get $1150

 

S pass is 2K plus only right?

why need to decalre 4k so high

$4K should be wanna siam tax liao

kin!!! poh mata!!!!

 

if 4k, local ah peh ah soh sure do already lah

[Baal]

so many restaurants doing similar thing.

 

pay high salary....under table give low salary. balance goes into boss pocket s extra allowances. all paid in cash to avoid any problem.

 

MOM staff should work OT to nab these FT!

 

Precisely. Iwt think these examples gives even more credence to FT depressing wages here.

[Tigerwoods]

I guess the FTs also no choice as they are stuck to work here on contract and if become whistle blower, no job ..

[Baal]

 

S pass is 2K plus only right?

why need to decalre 4k so high

$4K should be wanna siam tax liao

kin!!! poh mata!!!!

 

if 4k, local ah peh ah soh sure do already lah

The last time I checked, its min Diploma & above, salary 2.2k.

 

However, for older workers on S Pass, salary needs to be higher.

 

The same requirement applies to EP at $3.3k as a base.

[Jman888]

 

S pass is 2K plus only right?

why need to decalre 4k so high

$4K should be wanna siam tax liao

kin!!! poh mata!!!!

 

if 4k, local ah peh ah soh sure do already lah

 

 

you can see from the table, S pass $2400, EP $4500, i think this guy got degree so give him EP with senior store manager title. Later found out he can't read and write, can only carry goods, so cut to $1150

Edited April 14, 2014 by Jman888

[frenchfly]

how come all

Edited April 14, 2014 by frenchfly

[Baal]

very foolish.......this kind sure get caught one.

 

The other group are those who doesn't pay employer CPF.

 

But even more worrying are those coys, practicing this that have been getting away for an extensive period.

 

imo, maybe they picked on 7-11 to check since it has great public exposure & can score political points, as oppose to exposing a shipping company. Wait....that's Keppel isn't it ?

 

Below are the links for S pass & EP Pass requirements. Which will in part explain why "they" need to "pay" above the min requirement.

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/passes-visas/s-pass/before-you-apply/Pages/default.aspx

 

 

 

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/passes-visas/employment-pass/before-you-apply/Pages/default.aspx

Edited April 14, 2014 by Baal