3 foreigners convicted in Singapore for working without valid work passes

These individuals had worked as food delivery riders, and one Singaporean and one Permanent Resident (PR) were also convicted for abetting these offences.

Three individuals in Singapore have been convicted for working as self-employed foreigners without obtaining valid work passes. They worked illegally as food delivery riders, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in an update. Following their convictions, all three will be permanently barred from working in Singapore.

One Singaporean and one Permanent Resident (PR) were also convicted for abetting the offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 (EFMA).

The details of the charges and sentences imposed on the five individuals are as follows:

1. Ng Teik Chuan, a 36-year-old foreigner
   1. One charge under the EFMA for working as a self-employed foreigner without having a valid work pass.
   2. Fined of S$10,000
2. Amanullah Faizal Navas, a 37-year-old foreigner
   1. One charge under the EFMA for working as a self-employed foreigner without having a valid work pass.
   2. Fined of S$3,800
3. Chaw Soon Yaw, a 28-year-old foreigner
   1. One charge under the EFMA for working as a self-employed foreigner without having a valid work pass.
   2. Fined S$5,000
4. Muhammad Mubeen Muthibbi Bin Sahul Hameed, a 47-year-old Singapore Citizen
   1. One charge under the EFMA for abetting the illegal self-employment of a foreigner who did not have a valid work pass.
   2. Fined S$3,800
5. Chaw Soon Song, a 23-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident
   1. One charge under the EFMA for abetting the illegal self-employment of a foreigner who did not have a valid work pass.
   2. Fined S$5,000

Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) revealed that between May 2022 and March 2023, Ng worked as a food delivery rider using the MilkRun and LiveExpress applications. He made more than 1,300 deliveries, earning around S$17,000 from his work.

In March 2023, 37-year-old Amanullah worked as a food delivery rider for four days using the foodpanda account belonging to his friend Mubeen. Mubeen had agreed to share the use of his account despite being aware that Amanullah was a foreigner without a valid work pass, and that it was therefore illegal for Amanullah to work as a food delivery rider. Amanullah earned around S$540 from his work.

Between December 2022 and March 2023, 28-year-old Soon Yaw worked as a food delivery rider without a valid work pass using the Deliveroo account of his brother, Soon Song, a 23-year-old Singapore PR. Soon Song had offered to share his account with Soon Yaw to supplement Soon Yaw’s income. Soon Yaw earned more than S$2,000 from his work.

In view of the above, MOM affirmed its serious view of illegal employment, reminding employees that it will take action against any individual involved in these acts.

Under the EFMA, only foreigners with valid work passes are allowed to work in Singapore, in the occupation as stated in their work passes. Foreigners who are self-employed without a valid work pass may be liable to a fine not exceeding S$20,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Upon conviction, their work pass privileges would also be suspended, and they will be permanently barred from working in Singapore.

Local delivery platform workers who are found to have allowed foreigners to use their accounts may face the same penalties as the latter.

Lead image / Shutterstock