Updated: 07/16/2014 10:32 | By Channel NewsAsia
Man fined S$12,000 for not paying maid
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SINGAPORE: A Singaporean employer, Razalee Bin Rasdi, has been fined S$12,000 for failing to pay salaries amounting to S$7,450.40 to his foreign domestic worker (FDW), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Wednesday (July 16).
The 51-year-old was also convicted of illegal employment for continuing to employ his maid after her work permit was revoked for levy defaults. The court also found that he did not maintain a proper salary payment record to document salaries paid to his maid, the MOM statement said.
He faced 23 charges in all, of which six charges for non-payment of salary, one charge for failure to maintain a proper salary record, and another for illegal employment were proceeded on. The rest were taken into consideration in the sentencing.
Razalee was fined a total of S$21,000 for all charges and barred from hiring foreign domestic workers.
His Indonesian maid, Ms Umi Kholifah, lodged a complaint with the Manpower Ministry on June 11 last year. Investigations revealed Razalee failed to pay her in full for her employment from February 2010 to May 2013, with the arrears amounting to S$7,450.40.
Razalee also defaulted on his monthly FDW levy payments, which led to the revocation of his maid’s work permit on Feb 1, 2012. However, he continued to employ her to perform household chores at his residence until May 2013.
Ms Kholifah is now placed with a new employer, the ministry said. Razalee paid the salary arrears in full to her after the case was brought before the State Courts.
THREE EMPLOYERS CONVICTED IN FIRST HALF OF 2014
In a similar case on April 8, 2014, a 34-year-old employer, Rafidah Bte Rahmat, pleaded guilty to 16 charges for failure to pay salaries amounting to S$2,944.67 to her maid, and to a charge of failure to maintain a proper salary record.
She was fined a total of S$7,000 for the five charges that the prosecution proceeded on. The maid has since been paid the salaries owed to her.
In the first half of 2014, three employers were convicted of not paying salaries to their FDWs, the Manpower Ministry said. In 2013 and 2012, five and 12 employers were convicted of the same offence respectively, and were fined up to S$7,000.
The ministry reiterated that FDW employers must ensure prompt payment of salaries to their FDWs at least once a month. Employers who fail to do so may be fined up to S$10,000, imprisoned up to 12 months, or both. Those who employ foreigners without valid work passes can be fined from S$5,000 up to S$30,000, imprisoned up to 12 months, or both. - CNA/cy
