A 23-year-old Indian national was fined $2,000 on Thursday for engaging an unlicensed employment agent. This is the first time the Manpower Ministry has successfully prosecuted an employer for the offence since the relevant law was amended in April 2011.

In February 2011, Sadh Aakash Raman, director of Times Supermarket engaged the services of the unlicensed agent to submit a work pass application for his uncle.

In June that year, Sadh again engaged this agent's services, this time to hire an Indian national to work for him.

Under the amended Employment Agencies act, it is an offence to use the services of any person not licensed by the Commissioner for Employment Agencies for recruitment and hiring needs. Offenders can be fined up to $5,000 for each employee engaged through the unlicensed employment agent.