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Singaporean woman faces 13 charges for not paying maid’s wages for nearly a year

SINGAPORE — A 30-year-old woman has been charged with failing to pay wages to her domestic helper for nearly a year, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Thursday (Aug 17).

Foreign domestic helpers at a maid agency. TODAY file photo

Foreign domestic helpers at a maid agency. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — A 30-year-old woman has been charged with failing to pay wages to her domestic helper for nearly a year, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Thursday (Aug 17).

Investigations by the MOM found that Li Jun, a Singaporean, owed the Myanmar national salary payments from March 7, 2016, to Feb 21 this year. 

They amounted to about S$5,700 in monthly salaries and rest-day pay.

On Tuesday, Li was charged with breaching the Work Permit Conditions under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. She faces 13 charges.

If convicted, she may be fined up to S$10,000, or jailed up to 12 months, or both, per charge.

Li’s case will be heard again in court on Sept 12. 

The MOM has barred her from hiring any foreign domestic worker.

Under existing regulations, a foreign domestic worker must be paid no later than seven days after the last day of their salary period. 

Employers must also maintain a monthly payment record and get the worker to acknowledge it in writing. 

If the worker prefers to be paid through her own personal bank account, the employer must do so and ensure that she keeps her own bank book and ATM card.

The MOM warned employers not to keep their domestic workers’ salaries on their behalf, and/or make this arrangement as a condition for their employment. 

They should also turn down any request from the workers to help them save their salaries.

Foreign domestic workers who are owed salaries should immediately raise the matter with their employers. 

If the problem persists, the worker should report the matter to MOM or get help from her employment agency.

Should the public know of any such cases, they should report the matter to MOM at mom_fmmd [at] mom.gov.sg or call 6438 5122. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

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