Latest news with #EmploymentAct
Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Spectator
The BMA should be careful what it wishes for
Just a few weeks ago the trade union movement seemed to be on a high. It has got rid of its hated Tory government. Legislation which made it harder to call strikes had been hastily abolished by the incoming Starmer government. There were generous public sector pay rises all around. If you were a trade union leader, you had every right to feel pleased with yourself. How things can change. As a trade union leader, you really don't want a Labour health secretary calling your actions 'unconscionable', and suggesting that your members must 'feel pain' in order to discourage other unions from striking too. A Conservative health secretary, sure, but a Labour government is supposed to be on your side. Declare war on Labour and the result, as in 1979, is likely to be a government which is rather less to your taste. Surely it must have dawned on the BMA's trots that a Starmer government is as amenable an administration they're likely to get. They might, at a scrape, get Angela Rayner as PM who could, perhaps, loosen the purse strings on public sector pay just a little bit more. But they are not going to get a red-blooded socialist government which seizes the means of production and turns it over to the workers. Far more likely after Starmer is a right-leaning government which will want to clip the unions' wings. What was the unions' prize for helping to bring down the Callaghan government? Thatcher and the 1980 Employment Act which banned secondary picketing, brought the end of the closed shop, and imposed secret ballots on strike votes. It has taken 40 years for the unions to re-acquire anything like the power they had in 1979. The unions have had an incredible deal out of the first year of Starmer's Labour – far better than anything they got out of Blair. Its early public sector pay deals totally ignored the grim fiscal situation – even while Rachel Reeves was bleating about a £22 billion black hole and chopping back the winter fuel payment. Streeting followed up last year's 22 per cent pay rise for resident doctors with an inflation-busting 5.4 per cent this year, which was about as far as he could possibly go without being totally fiscally irresponsible. On top of that, he offered to look at wiping some medical graduates' student debt, providing they continued to work in the NHS. Yet still the BMA has gone ahead with a strike which is as long as any it held under the Conservatives. If the BMA's current behaviour is its way of showing gratitude, it is weird way of going about it. Its strategy looks like a death wish.
New Paper
5 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
Couple behind catering firms fined over $432k in unpaid wages to 103 workers
A married couple who ran various catering services, including Royal Cuisine Group and Tingkat Singapore, were fined for failing to pay salaries to their employees. Wu Wenchun, 37, and Sim Ling Zhen, 31, were each fined $72,000 after they each pleaded guilty to 12 charges for failing to pay salaries under the Employment Act. If they do not pay the fine, they would each be jailed for 66 weeks. Another 12 similar charges and a charge for failing to report their change of residence were taken into consideration during each of their sentencings. According to court documents, the companies owed 103 employees $432,870.63, of which $73,420 was eventually paid. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on July 25 that the workers were employed by three companies: Royal Cuisine Group, Yanxi and Healthy Meals Catering. Sim was the director, while Wu was the general manager of these companies, which operated several catering services under the brand names Royal Cuisine Group, Tingkat Singapore, Angel Confinement Meals, Happy Mamapapa Catering and Vegetarian Buffet, as well as the former restaurant Yanxi in Chin Swee Road. These catering brands, which Sim and Wu had actively managed, had been earlier reported by members of the public in 2022 over their failure to fulfil meal orders, MOM said. Ms Justine Loh, a senior prosecuting officer with MOM, said in court documents that the ministry received a complaint from a Royal Cuisine employee on July 20, 2022, that salaries had not been paid. Investigations showed that Mr Low Ting Hui, an investor who provided funds for the companies to operate and pay their staff, ceased his cash funding to the companies sometime in October 2022 due to disagreements with Wu and Sim over the business direction of the companies, including how the monies were spent, said Ms Loh. Without funding from Mr Low, the companies ran into cash-flow issues. "Despite meeting cash-flow issues and knowing that there would be difficulty in paying salaries to the employees, Wu and Sim decided to continue operating the companies, continue the employment of the employees, and opening other new businesses," Ms Loh said. MOM said the companies' premises were closed by the landlords in December 2022 due to rental arrears. The ministry added that Sim and Wu failed to fully inform the employees of the companies' situation and disregarded their concerns, even after the closures, resulting in the 103 employees being left stranded without pay for up to three months. It said the couple were uncooperative when employees sought assistance from MOM and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management. "They failed to attend mediation sessions, repeatedly missed appointments, and did not provide their most current residential address during investigations," said MOM. It added that despite being provided with ample time to make salary restitutions to the affected employees, Sim and Wu did not make appreciable efforts to do so. MOM said most of the affected local workers have since found new employment, and that the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management had helped them, including providing them with financial assistance and linking them up with NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute. Under the Employment Act, employers convicted for failing to pay salaries can be jailed for up to six months, fined between $3,000 and $15,000 or both. If the employers are repeat offenders, they can be jailed for up to 12 months, fined between $6,000 and $30,000 or both. MOM said it takes a serious view of the non-payment of salaries and that it will continue to take firm action against errant offenders who fail to comply with employment laws. It added that members of the public who are aware of suspected employment law contraventions such as non-payment of salaries should report the matter via its eService "Report an infringement" as soon as possible. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential, MOM said.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Fine for couple whose catering companies owed $432,000 in salaries to 103 employees
Find out what's new on ST website and app. According to court documents, the companies owed 103 employees $432,870.63, of which $73,420 was eventually paid. SINGAPORE – A couple who ran various catering services, including Royal Cuisine Group and Tingkat Singapore, were fined for failing to pay salaries to their employees. Wu Wenchun, 37, and Sim Ling Zhen, 31, were each fined $72,000 after they each pleaded guilty to 12 charges for the failing to pay salaries under the Employment Act. If they do not pay the fine, they would each be jailed for 66 weeks. Another 12 similar charges and a charge for failing to report their change of residence were taken into consideration during each of their sentencings. According to court documents, the companies owed 103 employees $432,870.63, of which $73,420 was eventually paid. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on July 25 the workers were employed by three companies: Royal Cuisine Group, Yanxi and Healthy Meals Catering. Sim was the director, while Wu was the general manager of these companies, which operated several catering services under the brand names Royal Cuisine Group, Tingkat Singapore, Angel Confinement Meals, Happy Mamapapa Catering and Vegetarian Buffet, as well as the former restaurant Yanxi in Chin Swee Road. These catering brands, which Sim and Wu had actively managed, had been earlier reported by members of the public in 2022 over their failure to fulfil meal orders, MOM said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Singapore Etomidate found in blood of 2 people involved in fatal Punggol Road accident in May: HSA Singapore Vape disposal bins at 23 CCs for users to surrender e-vaporisers, without facing penalties Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Sport Training sessions at World Aquatics Masters Championships cancelled due to Sentosa's water quality issues Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Ms Justine Loh, a senior prosecuting officer with MOM, said in court documents that the ministry received a complaint from a Royal Cuisine employee on July 20, 2022, that salaries had not been paid. Investigations showed that Mr Low Ting Hui, an investor who provided funds for the companies to operate and pay their staff, ceased his cash funding to the companies some time in October 2022 due to disagreements with Wu and Sim over the business direction of the companies, including how the monies were spent, said Ms Loh. Without funding from Mr Low, the companies ran into cashflow issues. 'Despite meeting cashflow issues and knowing that there would be difficulty in paying salaries to the employees, Wu and Sim decided to continue operating the companies, continue the employment of the employees, and opening other new businesses,' Ms Loh said. MOM said the companies' premises were closed by the landlords in December 2022 due to rental arrears. The ministry added that Sim and Wu failed to fully inform the employees of the companies' situation and disregarded their concerns even after the closures, resulting in the 103 employees being left stranded without pay for up to three months. It said the couple were uncooperative when employees sought assistance from MOM and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management. 'They failed to attend mediation sessions, repeatedly missed appointments, and did not provide their most current residential address during investigations,' said MOM. It added that despite being provided with ample time to make salary restitutions to the affected employees, Sim and Wu Wenchun did not make appreciable efforts to do so. MOM said most of the affected local workers have since found new employment, and that the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management had helped them , including providing them with financial assistance and linking them up with NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute. Under the Employment Act, employers convicted for failing to pay salaries can be jailed for up to six months, fined between $3,000 and $15,000 or both. If the employer s are repeat offende rs , they can be jailed for up to 12 months, fined between $6,000 and $30,000 or both. MOM said it takes a serious view of the non-payment of salaries and that it will continue to take firm action against errant offenders who fail to comply with employment laws. It added that members of the public who are aware of suspected employment law contraventions such as non - payment of salaries should report the matter via its eService 'Report an infringement' as soon as possible. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential, MOM said.
CNA
5 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Couple who ran food catering firms fined for owing salaries to more than 100 employees
SINGAPORE: A couple who ran several F&B companies were fined on Friday (Jul 25) for owing more than 100 employees their salaries. Sim Ling Zhen, 31, and her husband Wu Wenchun, 37, were each fined S$72,000 (US$56,300), in default of 66 weeks' imprisonment. They were each charged with 24 counts of salary offences under the Employment Act. The couple pleaded guilty to 12 charges, with the remaining 12 taken into consideration for sentencing. A total of 103 employees were affected for the salary period from August to December 2022 across three companies: Royal Cuisine Group, Yanxi and Healthy Meals Catering. About S$432,000 was owed to the employees and only S$73,000 was eventually paid. WHAT HAPPENED Sim and Wu were the registered director and general manager of the three companies. The firms ran numerous catering services under brand names such as Tingkat Singapore, Angel Confinement Meals, Happy Mamapapa Catering and Vegetarian Buffet. It also operated the former restaurant Yanxi at Chin Swee Road. The couple actively managed the operations of these catering brands. "These catering brands were earlier reported by members of the public in 2022 over their failure to fulfil meal orders," said MOM. MOM investigations revealed that Sim and Wu started to accrue salary arrears in August 2022. In December that year, the companies' premises were closed by landlords due to unpaid rent. Sim and Wu did not fully inform the employees of the companies' situation and disregarded their concerns after the closure, said the ministry. The 103 employees were left stranded, with some being owed up to three months' wages. Sim and Wu were also uncooperative when employees sought help from MOM and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), said the ministry. "They failed to attend mediation sessions, repeatedly missed appointments, and did not provide their most current residential address during investigations. "Despite providing them with ample time to make salary restitutions to the affected employees, Sim Ling Zhen and Wu Wenchun did not make appreciable efforts to do so," it added. Most of the affected local workers have since found new employment. TADM had assisted the former employees, including providing them with financial assistance and linking them up with NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). "MOM takes a serious view of the non-payment of salaries. We will continue to take firm action against errant offenders who fail to comply with our employment laws," the ministry said. Under the Employment Act, employers who fail to pay salaries can be fined between S$3,000 and S$15,000, jailed for up to six months or both.
The Star
22-07-2025
- The Star
Bus operator threatened with fines after drivers' strike leaves thousands stranded on Causeway
PETALING JAYA: Employers can be fined up to RM50,000 if convicted of illegal salary deductions, warns the Human Resources Ministry. The warning comes after a bus drivers' strike at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI), which left thousands of commuters stranded on Monday (July 21). The abrupt strike took place around 6.30am, with drivers refusing to transport passengers into Singapore until the strike ended at 8am. Some commuters reportedly resorted to walking the 1.05km stretch from BSI into Singapore on foot. "An investigation by the Labour Department revealed that the strike was triggered by unexplained salary deductions, allegations of unpaid overtime, and the termination of the employees' Special Duty Allowance without notice. "The Johor-based firm was found to have violated the Employment Act in the past, with company drivers recorded working over 104 overtime hours per month. Despite this, many were reluctant to file official complaints for fear of repercussions," said the ministry in a statement on Tuesday (July 22). Two investigation papers have since been opened against the company under the Act. The ministry emphasised that all employers must comply with the provisions under the Employment Act, particularly concerning salary deductions. Workers facing issues with illegal salary deductions, unpaid overtime, or unfair treatment are encouraged to file official complaints with the Labour Department via its hotline at 03-8886 5192/5937 or through email to jtksm@
