{"id":63367,"date":"2026-06-24T13:52:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T05:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=63367"},"modified":"2026-06-24T13:52:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T05:52:58","slug":"ntuc-finds-150-job-openings-for-workers-left-unpaid-trying-to-ensure-that-all-400-are-matched","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=63367","title":{"rendered":"NTUC finds 150 job openings for workers left unpaid, trying to ensure that all 400 are matched"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has found 40 firms with about 150 vacancies for unpaid migrant workers employed by an <!-- -->air-conditioner<!-- --> servicing company, said NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On June 24, Ng said the NTUC\u2019s Migrant Workers\u2019 Centre (MWC) has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/number-of-workers-with-claims-of-unpaid-wages-linked-to-air-con-firm-climbs-to-400?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">assisted about 400 workers<\/span><\/a> involved in the case so far.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Affected workers will also be given $100 cash and $100 FairPrice vouchers each to meet their near-term needs, he added, after a visit to Tuas View Dormitory where most of the workers are staying.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/more-than-100-migrant-workers-turn-up-at-mom-office-in-bendemeer-claiming-unpaid-wages?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">On June 22, over 100 migrant workers had turned up at a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) office<\/span><\/a> claiming they had been owed at least two months\u2019 salary by their employers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">They are employed by either KPA Engineering, a company that provides air-con maintenance services or its related firm, SK Industries. MOM is investigating both companies for possible breaches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Noting that job placement for the workers will be critical, Ng said in the next few days <!-- -->that NTUC<!-- --> will try to ensure that all the affected workers can be matched.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ng added: \u201cThe practice of abandoni<!-- -->ng wor<!-- -->kers and not paying salaries is not something the NTUC will stand (by) without acting upon. Employers must be responsible, and I\u2019m glad that many employers have come forward to assist these migrant workers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said: \u201cI understand they still owe agency fees, and some of them are in debt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ng said the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and the tripartite partners are working to contact the employers involved in the case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But he added: \u201cI understand that they may not be in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"More than 100 workers show up at MOM claiming unpaid wages\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S4HmLGCSsQE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash, who was also at the dormitory, said the workers\u2019 stories were <!-- -->heart-rending<!-- -->, as their unpaid salaries have taken a toll on them and their families.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said that when the affected workers\u2019 term in the dormitory ends, MOM will be moving<!-- --> <!-- -->them to the MOM <!-- -->Onboard Centre<!-- --> in Sengkang.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On the financial assistance given to migrant workers, Dinesh said: \u201cThe numbers may be modest at this point in time, but it\u2019s useful to allow them to tide over these few days \u2013 to top up their phones, so that they can call their loved ones \u2013 because some of them really don\u2019t have much money in their pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added that MOM takes a very serious view of the employers allegedly involved in this case. Investigations are currently in its nascent stage, and MOM will take the necessary actions once investigations are done, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">When asked if this was the worst case of worker abandonment here, Ng said this was not an issue of numbers, but of migrant workers\u2019 lives and livelihoods.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Noting that many migrant workers are under a mountain load of debt, Ng said he read from The Straits Times\u2019 latest report that some of the affected workers had to borrow money at home for their children to go to school.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added: \u201cOn the specific numbers, let us finish, and then we can do a proper case study and learn the proper lessons through this.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/406bf373c9dfec78d907dea1d02b596dc5724310ecb00bed0f9e6b4f9caba633?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/406bf373c9dfec78d907dea1d02b596dc5724310ecb00bed0f9e6b4f9caba633?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/406bf373c9dfec78d907dea1d02b596dc5724310ecb00bed0f9e6b4f9caba633?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/406bf373c9dfec78d907dea1d02b596dc5724310ecb00bed0f9e6b4f9caba633\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/406bf373c9dfec78d907dea1d02b596dc5724310ecb00bed0f9e6b4f9caba633\" alt=\"NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng (right) and Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash (second from right) distributing lunch to the migrant workers at Tuas View Dormitory on June 24.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng (right) and Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash (second from right) distributing lunch to the migrant workers at Tuas View Dormitory on June 24.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> <!-- -->ST PHOTO: GIN TAY<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On June 24, in a packed cinema hall within Tuas View Dormitory, Ng spoke to around 200 affected workers with the help of Tamil and Bengali interpreters. When asked how many months\u2019 salary they were owed, <!-- -->workers raised their hands<!-- --> with most saying three months\u2019 worth, while some said four months\u2019 worth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">And when Ng asked how many of them wanted to continue working in Singapore, almost every hand shot up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ng reassured them the authorities would take care of them and try to recover their salaries to the best of their abilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Dinesh also addressed the men in a mix of Tamil and English, emphasising that MOM views this case very seriously. He said MOM will conduct investigations and mete out the necessary punishments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Staff from MOM, MWC and TADM were present to address workers\u2019 queries and to lodge any remaining salary claims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ng and Dinesh, along with MWC staff members, gave out bags of lunch \u2013 curry rice, with vegetables, fish or chicken \u2013 to the workers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On June 22, multiple employees of KPA Engineering told ST they had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/i-have-to-borrow-money-to-send-my-children-to-school-migrant-worker-in-unpaid-wages-case?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">not been paid for at least two months,<\/span><\/a> and had been unable to contact the recruiting agent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">They had found out several days ago that the company had shuttered. An employee of a new firm at the company\u2019s listed address said KPA Engineering vacated the unit in September 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">KPA Engineering and SK Industries share a common director, who is linked to five\u00a0other firms providing air-con, plumbing and building services. The affected workers said the man is uncontactable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Most of the affected workers are from India and Bangladesh and are housed at the dormitory. They\u00a0initially had food provided by an external caterer hired by their employers, but that stopped as the caterers claimed they were not paid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">MWC has been providing meals for affected employees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">TADM said the affected workers are allowed to seek new employment while their complaints are being addressed. Workers are usually issued with a Special Pass which allows them to legally remain in Singapore to resolve issues like salary disputes and employment transfers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/community\/40-firms-offer-jobs-to-about-400-workers-affected-by-unpaid-salaries-linked-to-air-con-company\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has found 40 firms with about 150 vacancies for unpaid migrant workers employed by an air-conditioner servicing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":63369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=63367"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63367\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/63369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=63367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=63367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=63367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}