8 charged over 'phantom workers' scheme involving false CPF declarations in work pass applications

A total of eight individuals, aged between 31 and 61, were charged on Oct 8 for allegedly making false declarations in work pass applications involving Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions.

In a statement issued on Friday (Oct 16), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said the seven employers and an administrative assistant had allegedly falsely declared that CPF contributions made by their companies were for local employees who did not actually work for them.

"These locals did not actually work for the companies ("phantom workers”)," the ministry stated.

According to MOM, the alleged false declarations were made to obtain work passes illegally, which constitutes an offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

The eight individuals charged are:

Hou Ruisheng, 43, Singaporean director of Harvest Ecotech

Cao Yongliu, 52, Chinese director of Blue Sky Builder

Wei Yan, 48, Chinese director of Anchang

Wang Jianheng, 61, Singaporean director of Advanced Coretrades

Lin Jian, 37, Singaporean sole proprietor of Wang Da Construction

Zhao Ying, 45, Chinese director of Urban Builders

Cheng Pengfeng, 37, Singaporean director of He Jian Construction

Yvonne Teo Peck Ling, 31, Singaporean administrative assistant at He Jian Construction

They face one charge each under the act, except for Hou, who faces an additional charge for allegedly obstructing an employment inspector.

In addition, three phantom workers will face administrative financial penalties for fraudulently receiving CPF contributions despite not working for these companies.

In doing so, they are said to have abetted the companies in inflating their foreign worker quota.

The number of work permit holders an employer can hire is limited by a quota known as the dependency ratio ceiling (DRC).

It differs between sectors, with the construction and process sectors having the highest DRC, at 83.3 per cent.

The DRC quota for marine shipyard, manufacturing and services are 75 per cent, 60 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.

The offence of making a false declaration carries a fine of up to $20,000, an imprisonment term of up to two years, or both.

Those found guilty of obstructing an employment inspector could be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to two years, or both.

MOM reminded all employers and employment agencies that work pass fraud is a serious offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

"MOM has stepped up investigations into suspected cases and will take firm enforcement actions against errant parties," it added.

MOM also advised members of the public not to accept CPF contributions from employers they do not work for, as doing so may constitute abetment of false declaration offences or the inflation of foreign worker quotas.

10月8日，共有8名年龄介于31岁至61岁的人士被控在涉及中央公积金（CPF）缴款的工作准证申请中作出虚假声明。

人力部（MOM）在周五（10 月 16 日）发表的一份声明中表示，这七名雇主和一名行政助理涉嫌虚假申报，称其公司缴纳的公积金是为实际上并未在该公司工作的本地雇员缴纳的。

该部表示：“这些当地人实际上并没有为这些公司工作（‘幽灵员工’）。”

人力部表示，涉嫌虚假申报是为了非法获取工作准证，这违反了《雇佣外籍人力法》。

被指控的八人分别是：

侯瑞生，43岁，新加坡人，Harvest Ecotech公司董事

曹永柳，52岁，蓝天建设者中国区总监

魏岩，48岁，安昌影业中国区长

王建恒，61岁，新加坡籍，Advanced Coretrades公司董事

林健，37岁，新加坡籍，王大建筑公司独资经营者。

赵颖，45岁，城市建设者公司中国区总监

程鹏峰，37岁，新加坡人和建建筑董事

31岁的新加坡籍行政助理张佩玲（Yvonne Teo Peck Ling）就职于和建建筑公司。

除侯某外，其他人均面临一项违反该法的指控，侯某还面临一项指控，罪名是涉嫌妨碍劳动监察员。

此外，还有三名“幽灵员工”因未在这些公司工作却骗取公积金而面临行政罚款。

据说，他们这样做实际上是帮助这些公司虚增外籍劳工配额。

雇主可雇用的工作许可证持有者人数受到配额限制，该配额称为抚养比上限（DRC）。

不同行业的DRC值有所不同，其中建筑业和加工业的DRC值最高，达到83.3%。

刚果民主共和国在海洋造船、制造业和服务业方面的配额分别为 75%、60% 和 35%。

作虚假声明的罪行可处以最高 20,000 美元的罚款、最高两年的监禁，或两者并罚。

妨碍就业检查员执行公务者，最高可被处以 2 万美元罚款、两年监禁，或两者并罚。

人力部提醒所有雇主和职业介绍机构，根据《雇佣外籍人力法》，工作准证欺诈属于严重罪行。

“人力部已加强对可疑案件的调查，并将对违规方采取坚决的执法行动，”声明补充道。

人力部还建议公众不要接受自己未工作的雇主缴纳的公积金，因为这样做可能构成教唆虚假申报罪行或虚增外籍劳工配额。