Singaporean faces 23 charges for offences involving illegal employment of foreigners

Investigations revealed that the Singaporean allegedly obtained work passes for 20 foreigners, in exchange for monetary payment.

On 9 January 2025, Qin Xiaoxi, a 31-year-old Singaporean, was charged in court with 23 counts of offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA). The charges include offences relating to illegal labour importation, false declaration of employment, and illegal employment.

Qin was the Director of Xpress Manufacture and Express Manufacture, as well as the sole proprietor of Xpress Cleaning & Service.

Here is a timeline of the alleged offences: 

May – September 2022

• Qin allegedly obtained work passes for 20 foreigners to work at Xpress Manufacture and Express Manufacture, both of which were non-operational.
• The work passes were obtained in exchange for monetary payments.
• Upon arrival in Singapore, the foreigners were not employed by the companies as intended.

June – December 2022

• Qin allegedly employed two foreigners without valid work passes at Xpress Cleaning & Service.
• These two foreigners had obtained work passes under Xpress Manufacture and Express Manufacture, as Xpress Cleaning & Service did not have the quota to hire more foreign employees.

Qin had also allegedly declared that one other foreigner would be employed by Xpress Manufacture, when there was no intention for her to be employed.

Investigations into these foreigners' involvement alleged offences are ongoing.

Under the EFMA, individuals convicted of obtaining work passes for foreign employees under false pretences — such as for non-existent or non-operational businesses, or for roles that do not require such employees — may face imprisonment of up to two years and fines of up to $6,000 per charge. For six or more convictions, caning may also be imposed.

Foreigners working in Singapore without a valid work pass may be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to two years, or both. Additionally, upon conviction, they will be barred by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) from working in Singapore.

MOM urges the pubic to report suspicious employment activities. Reports can be submitted via MOM’s eService, “Report an Infringement.

READ MORE: Company director faces 18 charges under Singapore's Employment of Foreign Manpower Act for receiving employment