Ex-manager in S'pore jailed 49 days for collecting S$18,000 in kickbacks from 5 migrant workers

A former site manager at 800 Super Waste Management has been sentenced to 49 days' imprisonment after he admitted to receiving S$18,000 in kickbacks from five migrant workers to secure their continued employment.

Koh Kim Sia was convicted under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA), according to a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) press release on Wednesday (Nov. 11).

He faced 24 charges under the Act and pleaded guilty to five counts involving the five workers, with the remaining 19 charges taken into consideration during sentencing.

According to MOM, Koh’s role at 800 Super Waste Management included recruiting and managing conservancy workers who performed estate cleaning and maintenance services for town councils, as well as handling the application and renewal of their work permits.

Between June and July 2021, Koh demanded payments ranging from S$2,000 to S$4,000 from each worker as a condition to keep their jobs, collecting a total of S$18,000.

In an advisory issued following the conviction, MOM stressed that demanding or receiving kickbacks from migrant workers is a serious offence.

The ministry reaffirmed its stance against individuals exploiting vulnerable workers for financial gain, noting that offenders under the EFMA face fines of up to S$30,000, jail terms of up to two years, or both per charge.

MOM urged migrant workers who suspect they are being solicited for kickbacks to reach out for assistance via the MOM hotline (6438 5122) or the Migrant Workers' Centre (6536 2692).

Reports on suspicious employment practices can also be submitted confidentially through MOM’s online infringement reporting service.