I AGREE with Mr N. Nagesh (‘Illegal pay pact’; Tuesday) on the need for serious enforcement against illegal pay pacts between employers and Employment Pass (EP) holders.
One company I worked for over-declared the salaries of its EP-holders to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore to fill the positions of draughtsmen.
When I discovered it, I reported the matter to MOM and supplied details of the wrongdoing as well.
The ministry replied that it could act only if the EP-holder complained, an answer that goes against common sense: Why would an EP-holder lodge a complaint if he was part of the plot?
If such loopholes are not plugged, imposing tougher conditions like raising qualifying pay levels or requiring more stringent educational qualifications may not necessarily make it harder for employers to hire foreign professionals.
Priscilla Poh (Ms)
* This letter first appeared on ST Forum
Link
