3 employers charged for failing to pay salaries, 3 more to be hauled to court

SINGAPORE — Three employers here were charged in court on Tuesday (April 4) with failing to pay salaries to their employees. Two other employers, who faced a total of 24 charges between them, did not turn up up in court and had their cases adjourned to April 27, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said.

A sixth case, involving a director of two companies facing 30 charges involving non-payment of salary, will go before the court on Thursday (April 6).  

Food and beverage firm WOW Holdings, the company behind the Tiong Bahru Club Singapura bistro at Eng Hoon Street, was among the three employers charged in court on Tuesday. WOW Holdings was charged with three counts of non-payment of salary, and two counts with failure to pay salary to employees upon dismissal.

The two other employers charged included construction firm Access Builders, as well as Woon Junyang, the director of robotics firm Infinium Robotics. Infinium Robotics was featured by local and international media in the past for developing drones that can serve food and conduct warehouse stocktaking.

The two employers who pulled a no-show were metal furnishing manufacturer Goodmate Global and 3S Restaurant. Goodmate Global faced 17 charges while 3S Restaurant seven charges.

The offenders could be fined up to S$15,000 and/or be jailed for up to six months for failing to pay salaries to their employees. The penalty can be doubled for repeat offenders.

“Employers must pay salaries on time,” said MOM’s director of employment standards enforcement, Mr Raymond Tan Choon Guan. “As in these cases, MOM will take stern action against errant employers for salary non-payment, including prosecuting those who have wilfully refused to comply with Labour Court orders or those who owed large amount of salaries to workers.”

Any employees who have not been paid their salaries or feel that their salaries have been wrongfully withheld should approach MOM or their unions early for assistance, the ministry urged. Doing so early will improve their chances of salary recovery, it added.

Anyone who knows of persons or employers who contravene the Employment Act can inform the MOM directly or call the WorkRight hotline at 1800-221 9922 or workright [at] mom.gov.sg. All information will be kept strictly confidential.