Employers Charged for Illegal Employment, Non-Payment of Salary to Filipino Domestic Worker – MOM

A 56-year-old Singaporean woman has been charged for allegedly not paying the salary of her former migrant domestic worker from April 2018 to April 2019.

Santa Maria Michelle Theresa is facing 13 charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA) for non-payment of salary to Emferatriz Borja Montefolka (“Emma”), a 43-year-old Filipino domestic worker, according to a press release by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Sept. 23.

If convicted, Theresa faces a fine of up to S$10,000 or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both, for each charge.

Emma is also suspected of having worked part-time illegally for Norliza Binte Kamardin, a 48-year-old Singaporean, from August 2018 to April 2019. Emma is facing one charge of working without a valid work pass under the EFMA. If convicted, she can be fined up to S$20,000 or imprisoned for up to 2 years, or both.

Norliza, the woman alleged to have illegally employed Emma, has been charged as well of employing a migrant domestic worker without a valid work pass under the EFMA.

If convicted, Norliza faces a fine between S$5,000 and S$30,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.

The MOM encouraged employers to pay the salaries of their migrant domestic workers electronically, through direct bank transfer or General Interbank Recurring Order (GIRO).

"Employers must do so if requested by MDWs. This ensures prompt payment and minimises salary disputes due to transparent records," the MOM said.