Probe into alleged misuse of work passes meant for students, trainees

Foreign workers allegedly hired to take up lower-skilled roles not allowed with the pass

- Tay Hong Yi

Investigations are under way into what a support group for migrant workers brands a "job scam" centred on misuse of work passes.

Training Employment Passes give foreign students and intra-corporate trainees the right to work here for three months, but they have allegedly been used to employ foreign workers in lower-skilled roles not allowed under the pass.

Some of the probes surrounding breaches of the pass requirements have already been completed, with more to come, noted the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on June 6. It did not disclose how many reports it had received.

The pass allows foreign students or trainees from a company's overseas office or subsidiary to undergo practical training for professional, managerial, executive or specialist jobs here for up to three months. Trainees must earn a minimum fixed salary of $3,000 a month.

The work attachment for student applicants must be tied to their studies. They must either be studying in an "acceptable institution" or earning at least $3,000 a month.

The investigation comes after 13 TEP holders sought help in recent months from advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2).

They were hired by employers to take up roles with a lower skill level than the pass appears to allow.