The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday received the complaints of 100 workers from India and Bangladesh and has launched an inquiry into KPA Engineering and SK Industries.
Media reports on Wednesday said over 400 migrant workers, largely from India and Bangladesh, had alleged that two Singapore-registered enterprises owned by foreigners did not pay their wages.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday took up the complaints of first 100 labourers from India and Bangladesh and launched an inquiry into KPA Engineering and SK Industries.
The number of underpaid workers has increased since the MOM launched its probe. Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) that assist migrants have also started an investigation into the issue.
Another 100 migrant workers from India and Bangladesh have raised concerns about unpaid salaries and living conditions, The Straits Times reported Tuesday.
The Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC), an NGO working on fair employment practices and well-being of migrant workers in Singapore, had met more than 300 impacted workers from the two firms and provided support a day earlier.
The directors of KPA Engineering and affiliated business SK Industries, thought to be non-Singaporeans, could not be reached for comment.
The enterprises have a director, who is also related to five other companies that supply air-con, plumbing and building services.
According to the article, KPA Engineering, established in 2014, now has another active director.
The usual director established SK Industries in 2023 and registered three businesses with the business registration in a single day in 2025, with him as the only director of each.
A Singapore daily reported creditors have been attempting to reach one of the directors for several weeks over accusations of unpaid debts.
Food caterers also stopped providing meals to the staff a few days ago because they have not been paid.
MWC has contacted more than 300 impacted workers to provide assistance, said Michael Lim, director of the Migrant Workers Segment of the National Trade Union Congress, on Tuesday. The NGO has been distributing food to the impacted workers.
The MOM and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) are investigating the workers’ accusations of unpaid salaries and other concerns such as accommodation, a broadsheet said.
Those impacted can look for new jobs while their grievances are being processed, the alliance added.
Workers are typically awarded a Special Pass that permits them to lawfully remain in Singapore to settle issues such as wage disputes and employment transfers.
A week ago, a number of workers from KPA Engineering approached the non-profit group, said Ethan Guo, executive director of Transient Workers Count Too. They were told to make a pay claim with TADM.
Affected workers can move to a new job, but may have to pay fees to employment agencies, said Guo.’If they are lucky enough to acquire a work through an employment agency, the normal charge is two months’ income for a two-year contract, which they cannot afford to pay since they are already in financial hardship,’ Guo was cited as adding.
MOM usually encourages workers to speak up, and to seek help early, if they are entitled to salary’, he said.The fact is that companies normally encourage the workers to wait, occasionally paying them modest sums along the way,” he stated. And the workers, who have paid a huge sum in recruiting fees, don’t want to protest for fear of losing their job. “That’s because employers have the power to cancel their work permits and repatriate them at any time,” he added.
Workers may not completely comprehend the claims procedure, and may lack the language competence and paperwork to pursue their claims with confidence’, said Prashant Somosundram, deputy director of Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics.
At now, (migrant) workers have very few possibilities to recoup the outstanding pay from insolvent firms,” he stated.If the workers have done the task, they must be compensated for it. “Wage recovery should not be charity or discretionary help,” he stressed.
