SINGAPORE — A married couple were convicted on Nov 2 for conspiring to make a false declaration in the work permit application of a 35-year-old Filipina, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Wednesday (Nov 10).

Kay Siew Hwa, 58, and her husband Woon Meng Fatt, 61, were each jailed for six weeks for their offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

MOM investigations found that Kay had interviewed Pirante Jean Delmo for a job as a housekeeper at K2 Guesthouse, which Kay owned, in August 2018.

Kay and Delmo reached an agreement that Kay would apply for a foreign domestic worker permit for Delmo instead of an S Pass, which she required for the job.

However, Kay had already employed Martin Mylene Alinsangan, a 37-year-old Filipino, and did not qualify to hire a second foreign domestic worker.

She then roped in her husband to use his name to apply for a foreign domestic worker permit for Delmo.

“Woon made a false declaration in Delmo’s work permit application that he would employ her as a migrant domestic worker,” MOM said.

“He further substantiated his need for a migrant domestic worker for his mother and brother’s special caregiving needs by submitting a doctor’s memo in his appeal.”

Delmo later entered Singapore in October 2018 and proceeded to work as a housekeeper at K2 Guesthouse, located along South Buona Vista Road, for about a year until the offences were uncovered.

Delmo was jailed for six weeks on Nov 24 last year for making a false declaration to MOM in her work permit application form. She was also permanently barred from working in Singapore.

In addition to Kay's jail sentence, she was fined S$9,000 for illegally employing Alinsangan as a housekeeper without a valid work pass.

MOM said: “Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, migrant domestic workers are only allowed to perform household and domestic duties for the official employer and at the residential address as stated on the work permit card.” 

For making false declarations in work pass applications, offenders can be fined up to S$20,000 or jailed for up to two years, or both.

“Errant employers will have their work pass privileges suspended, and the work pass applicant will also be permanently barred from working in Singapore,” MOM said. CNA

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