The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) charged Wayne Burt Precision Technologies Pte Ltd, a manufacturer of oil and gas equipment headquartered in Singapore, with 91 charges over unpaid wages for its 24 employees, according to the State Courts on Thursday (Nov 30).

In its press release, MOM said it has assisted the affected employees to fully recover their owed wages while recovering corresponding CPF (Central Provident Fund) contributions for local staff. These workers were owed three to four months’ salaries that amounts to almost $185,000.

Based on MOM’s investigation, this is not the first that Wayne Burt Precision Technologies had failed to make timely payment for its employees. Last year, the company was previously convicted and fined $17,500 on 24 November for similar offences.

MOM said it conducted investigated upon being alerted by the Metal Industries Workers Union, saying that its members did not receive their salaries within particular period of time. Investigators found that the company had failed to pay 24 workers’ salaries between December 2016 and March this year.

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Regarding to the case, Director of Employment Standards Enforcement, Mr Raymond Tan Choon Guan said, “The company has been persistently late in paying its employees’ salaries, despite having been earlier convicted of similar offences. This is unacceptable. In some instances, salaries were paid up to two months late, which caused financial hardship for many employees.”

“MOM will not hesitate to take stronger actions against such recalcitrant offenders”, he added.

Under the Employment Act, company that had repeated similar offences related to unpaid wages can be fined between $6,000 and $30,000 per charge. Additionally, the company and all its directors have also been prohibited from hiring foreign workers.

The ministry encouraged employees who are owed salaries by their company should approach MOM, the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management, or their unions to ask for immediate assistance. By doing so, this will improve their chances of recovering their unpaid salaries.

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