MOM suspends work pass privilege of six employers and bans four workers permanently for breaching leave of absence requirement

Ministry of Manpower announced on Sunday that it has suspended the workpass privileges of six employers and revoked the work pass for four workers after they have found to have breached the leave of absence (LOA) requirements in place due to the coronavirus situation.

Earlier on 31 Jan, the ministry enforced a mandatory 14-day leave of absence for all work pass holders with recent travel history to mainland China to be served upon their arrival in Singapore.

According to MOM, the work pass holders were repatriated within 24 hours and banned permanently from working in Singapore. The six employers will not be allowed to hire work pass holders for two years.

The four pass holders were caught working at their workplaces during their LOA period, said MOM.

Acting on information received, the ministry also found two Singapore permanent residents working at their workplaces during the leave of absence. Action was taken against them in their capacity as employers, by suspending their work pass hiring privileges.

MOM reiterates that employers and employees have a joint duty to ensure that the employee behaves responsibly during their LOA, adding that it would not hesitate to revoke the work passes and withdraw work pass privileges against errant employers or employees.