Woman fined $15,000 for not paying her foreign domestic worker

Woman fined $15,000 for not paying her foreign domestic worker

For failing to pay the salary of her domestic help, one Singaporean woman has been ordered to pay the price of her act.

The employer in name, Li Jun, was convicted on Wednesday (Sept 12) for not paying the salary of her foreign domestic worker (FDW).

She was fined $15,000 in default of six weeks' imprisonment.

Li faces 13 charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA), made against her by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), according to an official statement.

She was guilty of not paying monthly salaries totalling to about $5,700 to her domestic helper.

Investigations revealed that Li did not pay her domestic worker her monthly salary of $420 between Mar 7, 2016 and Feb 21 this year.

In accordance with work permit conditions, foreign domestic workers must be paid no later than seven days after the last day of the salary period, said MOM.

"Each salary period cannot exceed one month," the Ministry added.

"Employers must also maintain a monthly salary record paid to their FDWs, and to obtain written acknowledgement from their FDWs."

Of the 13 charges, Li pleaded guilty to three with the remaining 10 being taken into consideration for the purpose of sentencing, said MOM.

The Ministry has also barred her from hiring any more foreign domestic workers.

Li gave her domestic worker the full salary that she had owed her on Sept 7.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

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