45 companies operating world's best airport under scrutiny over possible work pass breaches

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is investigating about 45 companies involved in Changi Airport operations over suspected work pass offenses after an inspection found holders of passes meant for foreign professionals handling baggage.

The suspected offenses include false declarations and the illegal deployment of foreign workers, The Straits Times reported, citing a ministry statement issued on Nov. 2.

Investigations have so far identified about 270 workers whose deployment may not have complied with work pass regulations, the ministry said. They were employed by contractors and subcontractors of ground handler SATS.

Changi was named the world's best airport at the Skytrax World Airport Awards in March, the 14th time it has won the title.

During the recent inspection at the airport, MOM found Employment Pass holders deployed to perform baggage handling. Preliminary investigations suggest the salaries and occupations declared to the ministry for them were false.

Other work pass holders were also found doing baggage handling work that differed from their declared occupations.

The Employment Pass allows foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians to work in Singapore. New applicants outside the financial sector must earn at least S$5,600 (US$4,380) a month, a threshold that rises with age to S$10,700, according to MOM.

"MOM has directed SATS to strengthen its oversight of the companies that they have contracted, which includes verifying that foreign workers are deployed in accordance with their work passes, and rectifying any compliance deficiencies," the ministry said.

It has also issued an advisory to other companies involved in SATS's operations, underscoring their obligation to comply with the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and work pass requirements.

MOM said investigations are ongoing and it will take enforcement action if breaches of the act are established.

Under the act, making a false declaration in a work pass application carries a fine of up to S$20,000, up to two years in jail, or both. Employers who illegally deploy a foreign employee may face a financial penalty of up to S$10,000 and may be barred from hiring work pass holders.

A tug tows baggage carts across an airport apron in Singapore. Photo by Goh Rhy Yan/Unsplash

SATS said in a media statement carried by CNA that a routine internal audit had found work pass-related irregularities involving workers employed by some of its contractors.

"Immediate action was taken against contractor companies who did not meet the standards and obligations required under our contracts and were assessed to be non-compliant with applicable laws," it said.

The company said it has since reviewed other contractors' practices, given MOM a list of the companies and affected workers identified in its audit, and completed a comprehensive audit of its contractor workforce at Changi.

It has also strengthened internal checks to ensure contractor workers are deployed in line with their work pass conditions, and said it would take action against contractors found to have breached the law or their contracts.

SATS added that the SATS Workers' Union had raised the importance of robust checks and controls over contractor workers deployed alongside its employees.

In May, migrant workers' advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) published the account of two Indian men who said they had been recruited to work at Changi as "logistics managers" on Employment Passes with declared salaries of S$8,000 a month

They worked as baggage handlers and were paid S$1,500 a month in cash, the group said. MOM's Nov. 2 statement did not refer to their case.