Food stall owner got daughter’s maids to work for him illegally; one had 4 fingers severed in accident

SINGAPORE — The owner of a wanton noodle stall in Tampines pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Sept 14) to contravening various work pass regulations, such as by instructing his daughter’s domestic workers to prepare food for his business.

Lim Sheng Song also failed to ensure that one of them was properly trained in using an electric meat grinder. The domestic worker put her hand in the machine to retrieve a knife, causing four of her fingers to be severed.

Lim, 59, admitted to one charge under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, and two charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

Another similar charge will be taken into consideration for sentencing on Oct 8.

His daughter, Lim Sock Hong, was fined S$7,000. The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to allowing the women whom she had employed to work as kitchen assistants for her father at the stall.

Lim’s wife, Koh Siew Imm, 59, was given a stern warning for similarly instructing the workers to help out in running the business. The prosecution then withdrew the two charges against her.

The family had initially intended to claim trial. 

Court documents showed that Lim Sheng Song first employed Ms Khin Htar Thwe as a kitchen assistant at Xin Ji noodle stall, located along Tampines Street 11, from June to September 2016.

He then employed Ms Su Su Mar from November 2017 to Jan 31, 2019. The severing of her fingers happened around that day.

Both women were in Singapore on work passes to work for his daughter, and he got them to work for him without valid work passes, the court heard.

He also got Ms Su Su Mar to perform chores at his landed residential property along Loyang Rise near Pasir Ris.

He admitted to failing to conduct a risk assessment for operating the meat grinder, developing safe work procedures, ensuring the grinder was safe and without risk to the worker, and ensuring that she was given enough instruction, information, training and supervision.

She had accidentally dropped a butter knife into the machine while making chilli paste, and was trying to retrieve it when her fingers were severed.

Mr Low Shi Hou, prosecuting officer from the Ministry of Manpower, sought two weeks’ jail and a fine of S$20,000 for Lim Sheng Song.

The man's lawyer noted that he had already paid more than S$70,000 for the worker's medical bills and further compensated Ms Su Su Mar with S$21,000 for her care.

However, Mr Low responded that employers are legally obliged to pay medical compensation for workplace accidents.

Those convicted of workplace safety and health offences can be jailed for up to two years or fined up to S$200,000, or both.

For hiring a foreign employee without a valid work pass, the maximum penalty is a jail term for up to 12 months or a fine of up to S$30,000, or both.