Some 32 foreigners were working without valid work passes in entertainment establishments
More than 50 individuals are under investigation in Singapore after being arrested as part of the government's crackdown on Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA) violations.
Officers from the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Police Force, and the Health Sciences Authority arrested 58 people on Thursday during a joint enforcement operation at two public entertainment outlets.
Among the arrested, 32 are foreigners who were hired as performing artistes under the Work Permit (Performing Artiste) scheme. However, officials found they were working illegally without valid work passes at the two public entertainment establishments.
A further 22 foreigners and four Singapore Permanent Residents were also arrested for employment-related offences, while two more were caught for possessing e-vaporisers, which are banned in Singapore.
"Investigations against all parties are ongoing," MOM said in a media release.
Adrian Quek, Divisional Director of MOM’s Foreign Manpower Management Division, said the ministry will not tolerate any abuse of the work pass framework.
"Foreign workers must be engaged in legitimate employment. We will continue to take strong enforcement action against those who abuse the system and undermine the integrity of our work pass controls," Quek said in a statement.
Singapore's rules for foreigners
Singapore's Work Permit (Performing Artiste) scheme allows performing artistes from overseas to work in eligible public entertainment outlets for up to six months.
Changes to the scheme are coming, according to MOM, which reviewed the programme amid persistent abuse.
The work permit falls under Singapore's Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA), which states that employers cannot hire a foreign employee without a valid work pass.
Employers convicted are liable to a fine between S$5,000 and S$30,000, as well as imprisonment for up to one year, or to both.
Meanwhile, foreigners working without a valid work pass may also be fined and/or imprisoned, as well as barred from working in Singapore.
