Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower suspends licences of two employment agencies for breaching Employment Agencies Act

This comes following investigations into Global Recruiters and SDI Global for collecting agency fees from jobseekers prior to emplacing them.

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has suspended the licenses of two employment agencies (EA).  

In its statement on 1 November 2024 (Friday), MOM identified companies Global Recruiters and SDI Global to have breach section 10(1)(a) of the Employment Agencies Act 1958 (EAA). The Act prohibits employment agencies from collecting fees before placing the jobseeker in a position, and such actions would constitute a contravention of the EAA. 

Investigations following two complaints made against Global Recruiters revealed that it had charged and collected upfront agency fees from job hunters seeking employment in Europe. Similarly, SDI Global had also collected agency fees prior to emplacing jobseekers. 

In line with the above, the ministry has advised jobseekers looking at overseas job positions to refrain from paying agency fees to EAs until they have been successfully placed in their positions. The agency fee cap of no more than two months of their salary also applies to overseas job placements, said MOM. 

MOM encourages members of the public or jobseekers who are aware of suspicious employment activities such as EAs collecting agency fees before job placement or overcharging fees, should report to MOM through the eService portal under “Report an infringement” . All reports will be kept strictly confidential.  

READ MORE: Man jailed and fined S$80,000 for operating an unlicensed employment agency