2 to be charged over organising, abetting illegal public assemblies involving foreign workers

SINGAPORE – Two people are slated to be charged in court on May 27 over allegedly organising and abetting public assemblies without a permit, and inciting foreign workers to commit offences.

In a joint statement on May 26, the police and the Ministry of Manpower said a 33-year-old woman had allegedly instructed 15 foreign workers to stand outside two construction sites on Oct 24, 2024, holding placards to demand for payments owed to her company.

The foreign workers were under her employ.

Six workers with four placards were instructed to stand outside a Jalan Satu construction site, while nine workers with four placards were told to do the same at a site in Tengah Garden Walk.

A 36-year-old man had allegedly visited the site in Tengah to ensure that the workers had complied with the woman’s instructions, said the statement.

The duo and the workers did not have a permit to carry out these public assemblies, said the authorities.

However, the authorities added that no further action will be taken against the workers as the police have ascertained that the workers were acting under the instructions of their employer, and had no intention of breaking the law.

Those found guilty of organising a public assembly or procession without a permit can be fined up to $5,000.

Anyone convicted of abetting a foreign employee to break the terms of his work pass may face a jail term of up to 12 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.