Unlicensed employment agent who found jobs for 20 foreigners fined $30,000

Singaporean Lim Soo Chye, 51, helped 20 foreigners get jobs as performers at various pubs, despite not having a valid employment agency licence. PHOTO: ST GRAPHICS

SINGAPORE - An unlicensed employment agent who secured jobs for 20 foreigners at pubs here was fined $30,000 on Thursday. If he defaults, he will be jailed for two months.

Singaporean Lim Soo Chye, 51, helped the foreigners get jobs as performers at various pubs between July 2011 and April 2012, despite not having a valid employment agency licence. He was paid by the pubs for services such as submitting online work pass applications and acting as a minder for the foreigners.

Three of the foreigners also paid him agency fees ranging from $8,000 to $11,000.

Under the Employment Agencies Act, Lim could have been fined up to $80,000 or jailed up to 24 months or both for operating an unlicensed employment agency.

In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) advised job-seekers to use only MOM-licensed employment agencies. A list can be found on its website at www.mom.gov.sg/eadirectory.

Any person who engages the services of an unlicensed employment agent may be fined up to $5,000.

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