MOM arrests four people for employment-related offences over ‘phantom workers’

Making false declarations in work pass applications carries a fine of up to $20,000 and a jail term of up to two years, or both.

ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Published Sep 04, 2026, 10:57 AM

Updated Sep 04, 2026, 10:57 AM

SINGAPORE – Four people were arrested on Sept 2 by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for suspected employment-related offences over “phantom workers”. The four, two company directors and two company staff from the construction sector, are being investigated for suspected offences such as making false declarations and collection of employment-related kickbacks, said the MOM in a press release on Sept 4.

The directors are alleged to have made fraudulent Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions to locals who are not under their employment, or “phantom workers”.

By doing so, they are able to inflate the foreign worker quotas of their companies and thereafter bring in more migrant workers, said the MOM.

The ministry also said that another 21 individuals are assisting in the investigation.

Making false declarations in work pass applications carries a fine of up to $20,000, a jail term of up to two years, or both.

Those convicted may also be barred from employing foreign workers.

People who collude with companies by providing their particulars for fraudulent CPF contributions to inflate foreign worker quotas may also be prosecuted and be punished with the same sentence.

The collection of employment-related kickbacks is an offence punishable with a fine of up to $30,000, an imprisonment term of up to two years, or both.

The MOM reminds the public not to accept CPF contributions from businesses they are not working for, as they may be guilty of aiding in false declaration offences.

Anyone who is aware of such activities should report them to the MOM’s eService under “Report an infringement”, added the ministry.

Ministry of Manpower

在工作准证申请中作虚假陈述，最高可处以 20,000 美元的罚款和/或两年的监禁。

《海峡时报》摄影：KELVIN CHNG

发布于 2026 年 9 月 4 日上午 10:57

更新于2026年9月4日上午10:57

新加坡——人力部于9月2日逮捕了四人，他们涉嫌与雇佣“幽灵工人”相关的违法行为。人力部在9月4日发布的新闻稿中表示，这四人包括两名公司董事和两名建筑业公司员工，他们正因涉嫌虚假申报和收取与雇佣相关的回扣等罪行接受调查。

据称，这些董事向并非其雇员的当地人（即“幽灵员工”）虚报了中央公积金 (CPF) 缴款。

人力部表示，通过这种方式，他们能够增加公司外籍劳工配额，然后引进更多外籍劳工。

该部门还表示，另有 21 人正在协助调查。

在工作准证申请中作虚假陈述，最高可处以 20,000 美元的罚款、两年监禁，或两者并罚。

被定罪者还可能被禁止雇用外国工人。

与公司串通，提供个人信息以骗取公积金，从而虚增外籍劳工配额的人，也可能被起诉并受到同样的处罚。

收取与雇佣关系相关的回扣属于违法行为，可处以最高 30,000 美元的罚款、最高两年的监禁，或两者并罚。

人力部提醒公众不要接受自己未工作单位提供的公积金供款，因为这可能构成协助他人进行虚假申报的罪行。

该部门补充说，任何知悉此类活动的人都应通过人力部电子服务平台“举报侵权行为”进行举报。

人力部