| Singapore | 22 June 2016 | Asia Samachar |
A Singapore court has fined former chief operating officer (COO) Parmjit Kaur S$40,000 for offences related to foreign workers permits for the well-established bar and dining chain.
The 49-year old former Vice-President of Human Resources of Harry’s International Pte Ltd pleaded guilty in the State Courts on 20 June 2016 to charges of consenting to the offence of making false declaration of salary in work pass applications, according to a statement from the republic’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Investigations revealed that between April and September 2013, Parmjit, in her capacity then as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) and subsequently the human resource VP, instructed her subordinate to declare the fixed monthly salaries of 20 foreign employees as $3,100, to meet the minimum salary requirement needed to obtain Employment Passes (EPs).
However, she knew that the company only intended to pay the foreign employees a monthly salary that was below the minimum salary requirement of the EP, according to case details shared at the ministry’s website.
Based on the false information provided to the Controller of Work Passes, the 20 EP applications were approved and the EPs were issued to the foreign employees, it aded.
The foreign employees were issued Letters of Offer for the position of Chef de Partie, stating that they would be paid a monthly salary of $3,100. However, they would have to reimburse the company $1,600 for meals and transportation, a day after receiving their salary in their bank accounts.
In fact, the meals and transportation were provided only to some employees, and where provided, the actual cost was less than $1,600. The reimbursement practice continued for several months.
Making false declarations to the Controller is an offence which can be fined up to $20,000 and/or jailed for up to two years under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).
They will also be barred from employing new foreign workers and renewing their existing foreign workers, the statement added.
Harry’s International is wholly owned by F&B Asia Ventures. Kaur is no longer with the company, according to a media report.
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