EP Question

[tiktokman]

If a foreigner is hired by a Singaporean company and fails to obtain an EP for that person and does not even inform that person then I understand that the company has acted illegally. But is the foreign worker liable to be fined if they report the company even though they were not made aware of their non-permit status?

Any advice gratefully received.

[jalanperak]

Companies apply for EPs, but the employees themselves have to get fingerprinted and collect their passes. It is not legal for an employee to start working without an EP (or S pass, or Work Permit), and if you don't have the EP in your possession, you don't have one.

I have no first hand experience with Work Permits or S Passes, so these may be different.

[tiktokman]

How would an employee be fingerprinted or collect their passes if not informed of such requirements and were travelling across SE Asia for their work?

[you just dont get it]

Unless you have an EP you cannot work, if you have worked then you have commited and offence and can be prosecuted, jailed/caned/deported.  It is your responsibility to ensure you have an EP before you start work.  When you signed your EP application form you will have known what your liabilities are. 

[As above]

How would an employee be fingerprinted or collect their passes if not informed of such requirements and were travelling across SE Asia for their work?

Your company applies for the EP.  It's either approved (you collect, get a little green employmeny pass card, etc) or not approved (you can't work here legally).  It's all in black and white on the Singapore ministry of manpower website.  It sounds like you are in the latter category, and yet you are working?  If so, you are doing so illegally and you need to sort it out with your employer immediately.

[jalanperak]

How would an employee be fingerprinted or collect their passes if not informed of such requirements and were travelling across SE Asia for their work?

If you're "traveling across SE Asia," are you in Singapore working? If you're not, then from the standpoint of Singapore law it doesn't matter if you have an EP or not.

[tiktokman]

thanks for the replies - it's not me though but someone I know who has been misled by their employer.

[tiktokman]

this person I know is now having their pay withheld for unspecified reasons. I'm guessing there are laws against this? How well protected are foreigners against unscrupulous companies?

[Kafka]

this person I know is now having their pay withheld for unspecified reasons. I'm guessing there are laws against this? How well protected are foreigners against unscrupulous companies?

So this person you know had his/her EP rejected but is travelling for work and is supposed to get paid but the salary is held... Well, not sure what to recommend here... First your friend is careless to have started work without EP (not to mention he has 0 insurance coverage if something happens while travelling...). There are indeed laws against unscrupulous employers, but I think the one facing the most risks here is your friend... I would say good chance to get deported... Not to mention, how can you friend live in Singapore without EP, for hp, housing, bank, ...?

[Sorry but.....]

Unfortunately it seems that your friend was never legally employed and is therefore without legal protection.  In Singapore the protection of employees is limited to the lower levels of the workforce anyway.

Ironically, the company would probably be breaking more laws by paying him than by withholding the salary, given that he is not legally employed in the first place.