CPF recovers $420m in arrears for 2013

The increase compared with last year was due to a step up in enforcement efforts, as well as more awareness of workers' rights, the CPF Board said. -- ST FILE PHOTO: MALCOLM MCLEOD
The increase compared with last year was due to a step up in enforcement efforts, as well as more awareness of workers' rights, the CPF Board said. -- ST FILE PHOTO: MALCOLM MCLEOD

About $420 million in Central Provident Fund (CPF) arrears has been recovered from cases closed last year, benefitting more than 250,000 local workers.

This was up from $293 million recovered in 2012, the CPF Board said on Monday.

The arrears recovered were from underpayment, non-payment and late payment of CPF contributions by employers.

The increase compared with last year was due to a step up in enforcement efforts, as well as more awareness of workers' rights, the CPF Board said.

For cases of underpayment or non-payment, $16.6 million was recovered from 3,900 errant employers in industries such as security, cleaning and food and beverage. This benefitted more than 19,000 employees.

The CPF Board also found that an average of 3,600 employers made CPF contributions late each month.

The detection and follow-up enforcement actions benefitted more than 230,000 workers, and added up to $406.6 million.

There were 41 convictions for non-payment and underpayment of CPF last year, and 202 convictions for late payment. All convicted employers were fined and ordered to pay CPF arrears.

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