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[h=2]PRC company fined $8K for not paying workers on time[/h]
April 27th, 2013 |
Author: Editorial
Zhong Jiang (Singapore) International Pte Ltd was charged in court on 25 Apr
after the Manpower Ministry (MOM) investigated the company over a work dispute
protest by two PRCs who climbed atop a 10-storey tall crane.
The 2 were convicted of criminal trespass last month with jail of four weeks
each (‘PRC workers who staged sit-in on top of tower cranes
jailed‘).
However, MOM took the opportunity to conduct a broader investigation into
Zhong Jiang’s employment practices.
It was found that it had failed to make timely salary payments involving 10
other workers. The firm’s representative pleaded guilty to 25 counts of failing
to pay workers their salaries on time. The amount of salaries involved was more
than $44,400 in all.
This is the highest number of such charges faced by a company so far this
year.
Prosecution proceeded only on 8 charges, with the company fined $1,000 per
charge.
Under the Employment Act, it is an offence if a company fails to pay workers
their salaries within seven days after the last day of the salary period.
Zhong Jiang International Pte Ltd is a local subsidiary of Chinese
state-owned enterprise China Jiangsu International Group. On its website, it
listed the following businesses it engages in:
Note that in addition to involving in construction business, it also provides
recruitment and immigration services. It further stated on its site:
To Our Clients:
“We assist Singapore companies to recruit qualified & competent
individuals from various parts of China. We are poised to fulfill all your
recruitment needs with our extensive database of quality candidates and network
in China.”
Network in China:
“Nanjing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanchang, Hangzhou, Hefei, Xian, Wuhan,
Zhengzhou, Taiyuan, Qingdao, Dalian, Chongqing, Jilin, Shenyang, Dalian,
Changchun, Harbin.”
Focus For Industries:
“We pride ourselves for providing Chinese talents and skilled personnel to
Singapore Recruiters. Our main focus is in the below mentioned sectors. We
supply a wide and diversity range of Chinese Engineers & skill personnel
which include Petroleum Engineer, Lab Analyst, Nurse, CNC Programmers, CNC
Machinists Operators,QC for the Electronics and Semiconductor industries, Waiter
& Waitress for Hotel & Restaurant, Officer & Customer Service
Executive in Sales industry, Bus driver for Transport industries, Cleaner for
Commercial Building & HDB, etc.”
It even said that, “We ensure all selected candidates are properly briefed on
employment terms and conditions to avoid future disputes.”
The company has posted notices on its website to recruit workers for
SingPost, Changi Airport. SMRT, Star Cruises, Gateway Technologies and others.
Last year, it has in fact recruited at least 99 PRCs for SMRT. When contacted by
the media about this, someone in the company said the person in charge of the
SMRT recruitment was out of town. SMRT also declined to comment on the
matter.
It’s not known how much money these PRC workers had to pay to Zhong Jiang
International in order to secure a job here in Singapore. And the puzzling thing
is that some of these recruited PRC workers like 2 who climbed atop a 10-storey
tall crane, actually worked for the construction arm of Zhong Jiang
International.
.
Related: PRCs abused and exploited – but now in jail
Zhong Jiang (Singapore) International Pte Ltd was charged in court on 25 Apr
after the Manpower Ministry (MOM) investigated the company over a work dispute
protest by two PRCs who climbed atop a 10-storey tall crane.
The 2 were convicted of criminal trespass last month with jail of four weeks
each (‘PRC workers who staged sit-in on top of tower cranes
jailed‘).
However, MOM took the opportunity to conduct a broader investigation into
Zhong Jiang’s employment practices.
It was found that it had failed to make timely salary payments involving 10
other workers. The firm’s representative pleaded guilty to 25 counts of failing
to pay workers their salaries on time. The amount of salaries involved was more
than $44,400 in all.
This is the highest number of such charges faced by a company so far this
year.
Prosecution proceeded only on 8 charges, with the company fined $1,000 per
charge.
Under the Employment Act, it is an offence if a company fails to pay workers
their salaries within seven days after the last day of the salary period.
Zhong Jiang International Pte Ltd is a local subsidiary of Chinese
state-owned enterprise China Jiangsu International Group. On its website, it
listed the following businesses it engages in:
- Engineering & Contracting services
- Labour Supply & Recruitment
- Import & Export
- Overseas training
- Overseas Education
- Immigration services
Note that in addition to involving in construction business, it also provides
recruitment and immigration services. It further stated on its site:
To Our Clients:
“We assist Singapore companies to recruit qualified & competent
individuals from various parts of China. We are poised to fulfill all your
recruitment needs with our extensive database of quality candidates and network
in China.”
Network in China:
“Nanjing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanchang, Hangzhou, Hefei, Xian, Wuhan,
Zhengzhou, Taiyuan, Qingdao, Dalian, Chongqing, Jilin, Shenyang, Dalian,
Changchun, Harbin.”
Focus For Industries:
“We pride ourselves for providing Chinese talents and skilled personnel to
Singapore Recruiters. Our main focus is in the below mentioned sectors. We
supply a wide and diversity range of Chinese Engineers & skill personnel
which include Petroleum Engineer, Lab Analyst, Nurse, CNC Programmers, CNC
Machinists Operators,QC for the Electronics and Semiconductor industries, Waiter
& Waitress for Hotel & Restaurant, Officer & Customer Service
Executive in Sales industry, Bus driver for Transport industries, Cleaner for
Commercial Building & HDB, etc.”
employment terms and conditions to avoid future disputes.”
The company has posted notices on its website to recruit workers for
SingPost, Changi Airport. SMRT, Star Cruises, Gateway Technologies and others.
Last year, it has in fact recruited at least 99 PRCs for SMRT. When contacted by
the media about this, someone in the company said the person in charge of the
SMRT recruitment was out of town. SMRT also declined to comment on the
matter.
It’s not known how much money these PRC workers had to pay to Zhong Jiang
International in order to secure a job here in Singapore. And the puzzling thing
is that some of these recruited PRC workers like 2 who climbed atop a 10-storey
tall crane, actually worked for the construction arm of Zhong Jiang
International.
.
Related: PRCs abused and exploited – but now in jail
