Latest news with #MOM
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
When Sridevi Was Almost Cast In A Rom-Com By Kaalidhar Laapata Director
Madhumita revealed that Sridevi had agreed to do a rom-com film with her but passed away before the project could go on floors. Bollywood icon Sridevi was last seen in the 2017 film MOM before her tragic demise. Kaalidhar Laapata director Madhumita recently revealed that the English Vinglish star had agreed to do a film with her but passed away before the project could begin. The film was shelved after the actress passed away. During an interview with SCREEN, Madhumita revealed that Sridevi had agreed to do a rom-com film with her. Recalling her meeting with the late actress, Madhumita shared that she had written a script for Sridevi and went on to pitch it. 'She (Sridevi) said yes. It was the sweetest thing ever. This was right after English Vinglish had come out. I went to her house. It was a fun rom-com story. I narrated the story to her, and she really liked it," Madhumita shared. She explained that they had planned to make the film in three languages – Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Madhumita further shared that she met Boney Kapoor for inputs on the Hindi adaptation. 'I met Mr. Boney Kapoor as well. There were some suggestions he had on how to make it best for the Hindi audience," she revealed. The director expressed deep sorrow for Sridevi's sudden and unfortunate demise. Madhumita shared that she felt casting anyone else would seem like a compromise, and therefore she shelved the script forever as an homage to the late actress. During the interview, Madhumita was also seen talking about her first Hindi feature film, Kaalidhar Laapata, which premiered on ZEE5 earlier this month. The film stars Abhishek Bachchan in the lead role alongside Zeeshan Ayyub and child actor Daivik Bhagela. Kaalidhar Laapata is a Hindi remake of Madhumita's 2019 Tamil film K.D. The project is backed by Zed Studios and Emmay Entertainment. Recalling Abhishek Bachchan's reaction to the script, the director stated, 'After hearing the story for 30-40 minutes, he said, 'When are we starting the shoot?' He was ready to go. It was very respectful. AB sir was so attentive, listening and asking questions." Madhumati added that she wanted to show a side of Abhishek Bachchan that no one had seen yet. First Published: July 18, 2025, 16:51 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Did you know singer Shashwat Singh is Permanent Roommates' actor Nidhi's brother?
If you've been humming songs from 'Metro... In Dino, you're already familiar with singer Shashwat Singh and his melodious vocals. But did you know he also has a family member in the film industry? Not many are aware that he is the brother of actor Nidhi Singh, popular for her roles in projects like 'Permanent Roommates', 'Apaharan', and 'MOM', among others. In an exclusive chat with India Today, Shashwat spoke about his family and how the siblings ended up in different professions within the same that they are like any other brother-sister duo who fight, have differences, and misunderstandings, and then eventually hug it out and try again, he said, 'It's a very typical sibling relationship. She's my elder sister, so I actually got the confidence to pursue art from her.' The singer added that they come from an academic family, where their mother was a teacher and their father a he knew he might not be able to carry on that legacy, his sister's bold move to become an actor opened doors for him. "She decided to be an actor and did so well. People love her, and I feel so proud whenever I talk about her to my colleagues or anyone. It feels really nice because she's genuinely a great artist. I remember when 'Permanent Roommates' released, I was in Chennai, but I threw a party for my friends to celebrate her success," he explained. Coming from Uttar Pradesh, the journey to Mumbai may seem impossible for many, but the Singh siblings had their parents' support. 'When the entire world was doubting her, giving her gyaan about getting a regular job, my father said, 'Do what you believe in.' Even though he came from an academic background, he had faith in our dreams. When I told him that I didn't want to pursue chartered accountancy but rather take up music, he said, 'Fine, this is the last investment I am making in you. Go enrol yourself in a good course'," he then stated, "My parents have been amazing and supported our dreams. My father is no more, and I think it's all because of his blessings that we are here. As for my mother, she still comes for every single launch that happens. If I am performing in Mumbai, she'll be the first person there. I make sure I take her everywhere I go. They've always appreciated us a lot. We were both good at academics but also very artistic, and they understood that.'As he further discussed his childhood, Shashwat Singh revealed how he grew up inspired by Kishore Kumar. 'I was also a big fan of Rafi saab (Mohd Rafi). As a child, the emotions were conveyed to me a lot more through his voice. And then later on, I understood the maturity of Kishore Da's voice as I grew up. So definitely, those were the first few inspirations in my life. And then Sonu Nigam and KK - these rock stars from India were just amazing. There was also Shaan, and I loved Michael Jackson too,' he while he's lent his voice to Ranbir Kapoor quite a few times, we wondered who else he'd like to sing playback for next. Singh replied, 'I want to play back for everyone. Of course, King Khan is someone I've not sung for yet. Whenever someone asks me this question, I always say 'Bas Shah Rukh Khan ke sath ek hit chahiye (I just need one hit with SRK)'.'- Ends
New Paper
2 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
Attempted misuse of work pass for foreign students or trainees ongoing for years: Industry insiders
Errant employers and agents have for years attempted to illegally bring in foreign workers for rank-and-file roles such as dishwashers under a pass intended for foreigners to undergo short-term professional training here, said industry insiders. They told The Straits Times that the Training Employment Pass (TEP) attracts misuse in this manner because it does not impose a levy or quota on workers, unlike the work permit or S Pass, which are meant for lower-skilled or semi-skilled roles. The TEP has come under scrutiny of late, following allegations of such misuse. This included a blog post by advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) in May flagging the issue, citing accounts from a rising number of low-wage workers holding the TEP who have approached it for help since December 2024. The affected TEP holders had come forward with claims of being paid below the stated salary for their pass, asked to work before receiving their passes, as well as registered as "management executives" despite actually working in menial roles. Responding to queries from ST, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) revealed on June 19 that it has received 120 reports related to TEP abuse in 2025, but did not provide for comparison the number of reports received in past years. An MOM spokesperson also said an average of around 6,800 TEPs were approved each year over the last 10 years, with the majority of approvals for jobs in the services sector. The ministry has stepped up enforcement efforts against employers who misuse the TEP scheme to circumvent the work pass framework, said the spokesperson. The TEP allows foreign students or trainees from a company's overseas office or subsidiary to undergo practical training for professional, managerial, executive or specialist jobs here for up to three months. Trainees must earn a minimum fixed salary of $3,000 a month. The work attachment for student applicants must be tied to their studies. They must either be studying in an "acceptable institution" or earning at least $3,000 a month. Trainee lawyers who are not permanent residents or Singaporeans are one group who have been approved to work here under TEPs, ST understands. Another group, mentioned in a written parliamentary answer by Manpower Minister Tan See Leng in 2023, are those in clinical fellowship training programmes. But Dr David Leong, managing director of human resources firm PeopleWorldwide Consulting, said some agents use the TEP to supply a steady stream of labour to employers grappling with acute manpower shortages, particularly in industries struggling to fill low-wage or undesirable roles. "Some employers, unaware of the full extent of the agents' misconduct, are unwittingly drawn into these schemes, believing they are addressing legitimate staffing needs. "Others, however, knowingly collaborate with agents, taking advantage of the lax oversight to exploit workers for cheap labour, often in grueling or irrelevant roles." Dr Leong added he has consistently warned his clients against taking on workers brought in under a TEP, particularly for rank-and-file roles. He added that private education institutions may also sometimes act as fronts for channelling workers into low-wage, temporary jobs under the pretext of training. Speaking in his personal capacity, former MOM prosecutor Jason Chua noted that the non-renewable nature and short duration of the TEP makes it a relatively niche pass intended for skilled roles, compared to Employment Passes, work permits and S Passes. "Also, the TEP is meant for foreign trainees to learn skills and apply it back to their home country." In contrast, the fundamental purpose of more mainstream work passes lies more in allowing the foreign worker to contribute economically, rather than learn, here, he said. Reinforcing the intended scope of the TEP as being for skilled roles, Mr Chua said the TEP often gets confused with the Training Work Permit, which is reserved for eligible unskilled or semi-skilled foreign trainees or students to undergo practical training in Singapore. However, these are subject to a levy, and still count towards an employer's quota for work permit holders. The short duration of a TEP limits the type of roles that errant employers can practicably assign TEP holders. These are typically labour-intensive roles where high staff turnover does not matter as much. Mr Ethan Guo, TWC2's executive director, told ST the TEP holders who approached it for help often were forced by employers to sign pay slips indicating they received their full pay, but actually paid them less. "We even saw one instance where the pay slips were not even issued to or signed by the workers, but instead doctored digitally. "There are also those who were not given work and therefore didn't get any pay at all." Still, attempts to bring in low-wage workers under this pass have continued. A TikTok video first uploaded earlier in 2025 and subsequently deleted soon after media reports surfaced on the TEP, re-emerged in June. In a voiceover, a male can be heard touting the "advantages" of the TEP, including savings from not needing a levy, as well as "more obedient" workers. "The third (advantage) is that you don't need to keep on your payroll 'phantom workers', so you wouldn't need to live in fear of being caught, fined and have your finances frozen," he said, adding that agents are able to help employers handle flights and accommodation as well. Even though he acknowledged the short duration of the pass can be disruptive, the man added: "A lot of workers will be willing to come here."
New Paper
2 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
Authorities helping 29 Jollibean workers recover unpaid salaries
Soya milk chain Jollibean has agreed to pay the salaries it owed 22 employees in instalments and the Ministry of Manpower is investigating the company for offences under the Employment Act. The Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) has also ordered the employer to pay salaries to three employees while another four cases are still either undergoing mediation or waiting for a decision by ECT. This brings the total of workers receiving help for unpaid salaries to 29, said the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and MOM in a reply to The Straits Times on July 12. The agencies were responding to reports of unpaid salaries and late payments that occurred sporadically since December 2024. MOM will continue to extend help to affected employees. "We would like to remind employers to pay salaries and CPF (Central Provident Fund) contributions on time to their employees," TADM and MOM said in the joint statement. They added that employees in Singapore who are not paid salaries on time can file their claims with TADM, which will assist workers in recovering their salaries either through mediation or referring the case to the ECT, which has legal powers to order employers to pay owed salaries to their workers. Employees who require assistance can contact TADM at Jollibean Foods director Shahrul Nazrin Mohd Dahlan was reported in the media to have said that the company has a new owner and it is working closely with the authorities to resolve salary issues by the end of July. A counter staff The Straits Times spoke to on July 11 said her wages had been unpaid for May and June, and her salary for December 2024 delayed by around three weeks. She had to dip into her savings for rent and personal expenses, said the Chinese national in her late 40s, adding that other front-line staff were also owed salaries. "There was no forewarning; It would have been reassuring if the management had at least warned us that the company was struggling but hopes to turn things around under new owners." The agencies were responding to reports of unpaid salaries and late payments that occurred sporadically since December 2024. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG Employment lawyer Goh Seow Hui told The Straits Times that workers are taking a risk if they stay on their jobs despite salary arrears that a company promises to resolve after an ownership transition. "The employer's promises do not improve the worker's legal position. If there are better alternative opportunities available, the worker is better off resigning and making a legal claim for the salary arrears." An ongoing ownership transition is not a justifiable reason for salary arrears, added Ms Goh, a partner at Bird & Bird ATMD.
New Paper
2 days ago
- New Paper
Two women jailed for using forged university certificates in work pass applications
Hoping to get employment passes so they could work in Singapore, two foreign women submitted false university certificates to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). After they secured the passes, their ruse went undetected for 15 months as they continued working for CL Enterprise, a firm which operates multiple Mr Fix retail outlets carrying items such as kitchenware and appliances. On July 17, Torres Alyssa Riva Fernan and Conol Almira Joy Torres, both 29-year-old Filipinas, were jailed for four and six weeks respectively. Fernan pleaded guilty to one charge under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Torres admitted to one similar charge, with two other charges taken into consideration for sentencing. Asking the judge to impose a strong sentence, MOM prosecuting officer Teo Sijing said others were deprived of the jobs the two women had secured by deceiving the authorities. Some time in September 2020, Torres contacted an unidentified Philippine agent known as "Cory" to look for a new job after her previous employment at another Singapore firm ended. Cory informed Torres about a job as assistant sales manager with a monthly salary of $2,200. Torres was keen and went for the interview. After the interview, CL Enterprise submitted an application for an employment pass for Torres to work as its assistant sales manager. As part of the application process, Torres submitted a forged certificate indicating she had a bachelor's degree in science from Ateneo De Manila University, and signed a declaration form affirming it was true. She also stated that her monthly salary would be $5,800, although she knew this was false. She did so on Cory's instructions as she believed it was necessary for her employment pass application to succeed. Meanwhile, Fernan heard about Cory through a relative while she was still in the Philippines looking for a job. Cory required Fernan to pay her $4,500 before processing her job application. Fernan took a loan to pay Cory. Fernan then interviewed for the position of assistant operations manager at CL Enterprise and was hired. In her employment pass application, she similarly submitted a forged bachelor's degree in science certificate from De La Salle University in Manila, and signed a declaration form affirming that she had this qualification. Both Torres and Fernan worked at the company from November 2020 to February 2022. Their offences were discovered when MOM conducted a random inspection of CL Enterprise. Court documents did not give more details about the inspection. MOM's Mr Teo said educational qualifications and salaries are important considerations when determining whether to grant an employment pass application. Had the authorities known that the details submitted by the women were untrue, the pair would not have been granted the passes, said the prosecutor. "The sentence sought would impose a strong deterrent message to offenders who seek to exploit the work pass system by making false statements and creating backdoors to facilitate illegal employment," said Mr Teo.
