Latest news with #TrainingEmploymentPass
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: Training Employment Pass strengthens Singapore's position as a talent hub
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox We refer to the article ' Attempted misuse of work pass for foreign students or trainees ongoing for years: Industry insiders ' (June 24). The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) does not condone any abuse of the Training Employment Pass (TEP). While recent media reports have highlighted isolated cases of abuse, they should not overshadow the scheme's overall value to employers and the Singapore economy. The TEP continues to help employers across industrial sectors build capabilities, transfer knowledge and drive business growth. It also enhances employers' global business collaboration and talent attraction, further strengthening Singapore's reputation as an international business hub. Member companies of SNEF have leveraged the TEP to provide overseas professionals with regional exposure and structured on-the-job training that aligns with their academic and professional development – particularly in sectors such as marine, engineering and architecture. In today's increasingly complex operating environment – marked by rapid technological disruption, geopolitical tensions and supply-chain uncertainties – businesses need regulatory flexibility to adapt and thrive. Rather than pushing for stricter regulations or more comprehensive upstream checks because of the errant few, SNEF advocates educating and empowering the majority of employers to comply with well-intended regulations and addressing the outliers through strong enforcement actions when abuse is detected. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July HDB launch World Tariffs will kick in on Aug 1 barring trade deals: US Treasury Secretary Singapore Woman on SMRT's 190 bus injured after bottle thrown at vehicle leaves hole in window Business Great Eastern says Takeover Code not breached when it shared IFA valuation with OCBC Asia 'Don't be seen in India again': Indian nationals pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint Asia Thousands evacuated as Typhoon Danas lashes Taiwan Asia Two women fatally stabbed at bar in Japan by man Life Star Awards 2025: Christopher Lee wins big, including Special Achievement Award and Best Actor SNEF remains committed to partnering the Ministry of Manpower to advance progressive employment practices and workforce development that foster sustainable business growth. Hao Shuo Chief Executive Officer Singapore National Employers Federation
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: MOM takes firm stance against misuse of Training Employment Pass
We refer to the article 'Attempted misuse of work pass for foreign students or trainees ongoing for years: Industry insiders' (June 24). The Training Employment Pass (TEP) allows employers to provide opportunities for foreign students and intra-corporate trainees to undergo practical training in Singapore for up to three months and is not renewable. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been monitoring TEP numbers. MOM has mounted several proactive operations to detect abuse of the TEP scheme. Arising from these operations, about 70 companies are now being investigated for offences such as making false declarations in work pass applications. Making false declarations is a serious offence. If convicted, an offender can be fined up to $20,000, or jailed for up to two years, or both. Errant employers will also have their work pass privileges suspended. MOM has established that some workers were misled by employers or agents who falsely promised that the TEP could be renewed or extended beyond the three-month validity period. In some cases, workers were told that the declared salary and work duration in their In-Principle Approval (IPA) letters were merely to comply with MOM regulations, and that private arrangements such as lower salaries or longer employment periods could be done. Such practices are a serious breach of MOM regulations and amount to circumventing work pass conditions. Workers are reminded to review their IPA letters carefully, which clearly state their salary, occupation, and the period of employment which the TEP is granted for. Affected workers may reach out to MOM for assistance. Adrian Quek Divisional Director Foreign Manpower Management Division Ministry of Manpower More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Singapore Law Watch
24-06-2025
- Business
- Singapore Law Watch
Attempted misuse of work pass for foreign students or trainees ongoing for years: Industry insiders
Attempted misuse of work pass for foreign students or trainees ongoing for years: Industry insiders Source: Straits Times Article Date: 24 Jun 2025 Author: Tay Hong Yi The Manpower Ministry revealed on June 19 that it has received 120 reports related to the abuse of the Training Employment Pass in 2025. 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.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Attempted misuse of work pass for foreign students or trainees ongoing for years: Industry insiders
The Manpower Ministry revealed on June 19 that it has received 120 reports related to the abuse of the Training Employment Pass in 2025. PHOTO: ST FILE Attempted misuse of work pass for foreign students or trainees ongoing for years: Industry insiders SINGAPORE – 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.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Online Citizen
06-06-2025
- Business
- Online Citizen
MOM investigates misuse of passes for foreign students, trainees after TWC2 raises exploitation claims
Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has launched investigations into alleged misuse of the Training Employment Pass (TEP), a visa scheme intended to allow foreign students and corporate trainees to undertake short-term training stints in the country. In a statement responding to CNA's queries, MOM said it 'takes these claims seriously' and has already completed investigations into several cases, although some inquiries remain ongoing. The ministry declined to comment on the outcomes of the concluded cases, citing the continuing nature of related probes. Purpose of the TEP and regulatory framework The TEP allows foreign nationals to gain practical training in professional, managerial, executive or specialist roles in Singapore for up to three months. Companies can apply for TEPs if they wish to bring in foreign students or trainees from overseas subsidiaries. To hire a foreign student under this scheme, the individual must be pursuing a course of study and be enrolled at an acceptable institution, or earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000. The same salary threshold applies to trainees from foreign offices or subsidiaries. MOM stated that 'additional checks and audits' are conducted for selected applications, including requests for training programme documentation and proof of links to foreign offices. The ministry cautioned that employers found misusing the scheme to bypass Singapore's regulated work pass framework could face strict penalties. These include financial sanctions, work pass privilege suspensions, or even prosecution. Workers affected by potential abuses have been encouraged to contact MOM directly. NGO TWC2 flags spike in exploitation of TEP holders The allegations were first raised by Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a non-profit organisation supporting low-wage migrant workers. In a May 2025 report titled Management executives washing dishes, the group detailed 13 cases of TEP misuse between 1 December 2024 and 26 April 2025. TWC2 said it had 'never before seen so many workers on this kind of work pass in such a short time,' with the affected individuals originating from India (six cases), Bangladesh (six), and Myanmar (one). These trainees, the NGO alleged, were deceived into paying substantial agent fees—between S$3,000 and S$5,000—on the promise of legitimate, well-paying jobs in Singapore. Upon arrival, they were made to work in low-wage sectors such as food and beverage, warehousing, cleaning services, and even at a tour coach agency. False job descriptions and illegal deployment of workers The job titles listed on In-Principle Approval (IPA) letters often misrepresented the actual work. For example, positions were labelled 'management executive' while the tasks involved dishwashing or manual warehouse labour. Many of the trainees were made to work even before their TEPs were formally issued, a practice that TWC2 describes as illegal under Singapore regulations. According to the IPA documents, work must not begin until after the pass is issued. TWC2 stated that some employers delayed the official pass issuance by nearly 30 days, enabling them to extract four months of labour from a three-month pass. The affected workers were typically put to work immediately upon arrival, allegedly clocking 14-hour days, seven days a week. Underpayment and lack of legal protection While TEP regulations require a fixed salary of S$3,000, many workers reportedly received only S$1,600 to S$1,800 in cash. This discrepancy made it difficult for them to lodge successful legal claims or demonstrate contract breaches. Unlike Work Permit holders, TEP holders lack many standard protections. TWC2 added that MOM does not require employers to provide housing or food allowances for TEP workers, nor is there a legal requirement for employers to pay for repatriation costs once the training period ends. Use of false documents and risk of legal complications TWC2 also warned of the legal risks facing affected workers. Many are unaware of documents submitted on their behalf and are shocked to discover the possible use of false educational qualifications or digital declarations they may have unknowingly signed. These workers often don't understand the significance of signing on a tablet and may have unknowingly affirmed false information, the organisation said. The NGO added that these workers often become aware of their situation only when their passes near expiry and promised renewals do not materialise. By this time, many are also dealing with issues like salary non-payment and excessive working hours. Exploitation of regulatory loopholes TWC2 suggested that some employers are intentionally misusing the TEP as a loophole to bypass more tightly regulated Work Permit quotas. Unlike Work Permits, the TEP scheme carries no quota or foreign worker levy obligations. Furthermore, there is no legal obligation for employers to cover healthcare or housing, making it a more cost-effective and less regulated option. Employers may also profit from recruitment fees and underpay workers, knowing complaints can be ignored, the NGO claimed. TWC2 calls for MOMs action In light of these revelations, TWC2 has called on MOM to intensify scrutiny of TEP applications. The NGO recommended the ministry start by closely examining employers' stated justifications and the alignment between job descriptions and actual roles performed. The group emphasised that without enforcement, the system risks further abuse, undermining the credibility of Singapore's foreign manpower framework and potentially harming the country's international reputation.
