MOM says the key appointment holder of Maids R Us was jailed for nine weeks on 15 Oct under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. His agency licence was revoked in June and he is barred from the industry.
Source: MOM — EA Alert: Ensure foreign staff hold valid work passes and do not facilitate false declarations (28 Oct 2026)
In a written parliamentary reply on 3 Nov, MOM said Employment Claims Tribunal lodgement fees are kept low at $30 for claims of up to $10,000 and $60 for larger claims. It said the tribunal or registrar already has the power to order a party to pay the other side’s costs and disbursements, including lodgement fees, where appropriate, and has done so in various cases.
Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau told Parliament that about 88% of employers that filed Mandatory Retrenchment Notifications in 2025 paid retrenchment benefits, and close to 80% of retrenched workers who did not receive them came from firms with fewer than 200 employees. Tripartite partners are studying retrenchment benefit payments and earlier job-matching support as part of the ongoing Employment Act review, and MOM will work on clearer guidance on disguised retrenchments.
Speaking on 29 Oct, Minister of State Foo Cexiang urged employers using AI in HR to be open about its role, keep human contact at key moments such as interviews, and stay accountable for decisions.
On 2 September 2026, MOM arrested four people — two company directors and two staff — from the construction sector over a suspected “phantom worker” scheme. A further 21 people are assisting with investigations. What allegedly happened: the directors are accused of making fraudulent CPF contributions for locals who were never actually employed by their…
From 1 December 2026, four heat stress measures that used to be recommended practice become mandatory for employers with outdoor workers. MOM is also now recommending — though not yet mandating — shaded rest areas that are well ventilated or cooled. Employers have three months from the announcement to get these in place. Minister of…
MOM said seven employers and an administrative assistant were charged on 8 October 2026 under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act for allegedly declaring CPF contributions for local staff who did not actually work for their companies, in order to obtain work passes. In a separate case, two people who ran an Ayurvedic centre were found guilty of paying two Employment Pass holders far less than the salaries declared in their applications.
