3 firms linked to 400 unpaid migrant workers share same director, a S'pore PR who has left country

Migrant workers from a third firm in Singapore are joining those from two previous firms in seeking authorities' help over unpaid wages.

All three firms, VVR Plant Engineering, SK Industries and KPA Engineering, are found to share the same director, a Singapore permanent resident who has reportedly left the country, according to The Straits Times (ST).

Workers from the latter two firms had previously approached the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Services Centre in Bendemeer on Jun. 22 regarding their outstanding salary payments and housing arrangements.

They were primarily from India and Bangladesh.

Missing director

The director of the three firms is Indian national Ramu Palani Velu.

According to ST, he is a director of seven companies in Singapore, providing services such as air-conditioning, plumbing and building.

His registered address at a private estate in Hillview was found to have been rented out to foreigners for the past two years, and is currently rented to a doctor.

The condominium's security guard also stated that creditors had been turning up with claims of unpaid loans and payment defaults, though they were refused access.

At Ramu's previous registered address at Marine Crescent, a lawyer's letter was also placed at the front door, ST found.

He has remained uncontactable to date.

Bought company for 'not a lot of money'

The family that had previously owned the third firm, VVR Plant Engineering, said they sold the company to Ramu in 2025 after facing a "family crisis".

However, they were unsure who Ramu was as he was introduced by a third party.

According to the family, Ramu had said he did not need the 15 to 20 workers the company employed at the time.

The sale was also allegedly made "not for a lot of money", they said.

The family had initially thought that Ramu was interested in buying the business for its value in having access to work permits for the specialised process sector, which is difficult to obtain for new companies.

They have not been in contact with Ramu since, they said.

According to ST, Ramu started KPA Engineering, which was last recorded as having S$1 million in capital, in 2014.

Ramu was known to workers as the big boss, while daily operations were run by an Indian national named Moorthy.

The latter has also been uncontactable.

MOM investigating

About 400 migrant workers filed claims over the alleged unpaid wages.

In a visit to the Tuas View Dormitory on the morning of Jun. 24, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and NTUC are working to help the migrant workers recover their salaries.

Ng said MOM and NTUC are working to help the migrant workers recover their salaries while the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and its partners are working to contact the employers.

KPA Engineering and SK Industries are also under investigation for possible breaches, reported ST.

Meanwhile, S$100 in cash and S$100 in NTUC vouchers have been extended to migrant workers affected by unpaid wages, who are members of the Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC). 

Affected workers can join as an MWC member to receive the cash and vouchers.

150 job vacancies from 40 construction firms are being offered to the affected workers and lodging, transport, and food for them are also being arranged.