SINGAPORE – Several workers from VVR Plant Engineering are now alerting authorities to claims of unpaid wages – the third firm linked to a permanent resident company director who is said to have left Singapore.
Islam Md Rafiul, a 20-year-old Bangladeshi national, said he has not been paid for three months.
Speaking to The Straits Times at the Tuas View Dormitory on June 24, Islam said he moved to Singapore about six months ago and was hired by the general contractor company located in Pandan Loop and paid $800 a month.
He added: “I sent home about $500 to $600 to my family. The last three months, I did not receive my salary and could not send money back to Bangladesh.
“I’m supporting my family, and I’m afraid to let my family know what happened.”
Islam was among some 400 migrant workers at Tuas View Dormitory who met NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, representatives of the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) and Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash.
The workers, many of whom are employed by KPA Engineering, a company that provides air-con maintenance services, and its related firm SK Industries, had raised issues around unpaid wages and their living arrangements.
Ng said the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management and tripartite partners are working to contact the employers involved in the case.
VVR Plant Engineering, SK Industries and KPA Engineering have one common director – Indian national Ramu Palani Velu.
Checks on corporate intelligence platform Sayari show that Ramu is a director of seven companies here in total. The firms are listed as providing air con, plumbing and building services.
ST on June 23 visited his registered address in a private estate in Hillview and learnt that the unit has been rented out to foreigners for the past two years. It is currently being rented out to a doctor.
A security guard at the condo said several creditors have been turning up at the estate in recent months with claims of unpaid loans and defaults on payments. They were refused access to the condominium unit leased by the doctor.
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