Vaccinators and nurses at Bukit Timah Community Club vaccination centre claim that they were not paid salaries and have lodged at least nine complaints with the Ministry of Manpower as of July 2.

They are allegedly owed payments of between about S$1,300 and over S$4,500 since June 15.

In response, MOM said it is probing the companies accused of not making payment.

A spokesman for the ministry and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management confirmed that those who complained had been engaged as vaccinators and nurses at one of the vaccination centres.

The Straits Times reported that the two companies providing the workers at the centre are the Singapore Ambulance Association (SAA) and Megamanpower.

Police report made

Seven of the workers have since filed police reports.

A total of 19 of them are believed to be affected as they are in a Telegram group chat created to seek help in claiming the salaries owed to them.

The vaccination centre is run by Parkway Shenton.

The Parkway Shenton chief executive Edmund Kwok said it had hired Megamanpower to supply workers until early June.

A spokesman for Megamanpower told ST that it then "approached SAA for supply of medics and nurses".

No salaries for May and early June

Healthcare workers at the centre told ST that they have yet to receive their salary for the month of May and some for the first week of June.

The affected workers had received a message in a Telegram group chat on June 7 telling them not to turn up for work the next day.

One of the nurses at the centre told ST she often worked 14-hour shifts.

Contractors not protected under Employment Act

The affected workers were also shocked to discover that they were considered contractors of SAA and not employees of Megamanpower, despite signing timesheets with its name.

Both companies confirmed with ST that the workers were SAA contractors.

One of the vaccinators at the centre, a 21-year-old man, said he was "worried" to find out that they had signed a contract for service, which excluded protection under the Employment Act, as there is a difference between an independent contractor and employee.

Some of these vaccinators and nurses employed at the vaccination centres have medic training while serving National Service.

The ministry said it is checking if other vaccinators and nurses are similarly affected and helping those affected resolve their payment issues.

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