SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has suspended the licences of two employment agencies, following complaints they were collecting agency fees before emplacing jobseekers.
The companies are Global Recruiters and SDI Global, MOM said in a statement on Nov 1. The suspensions are to protect jobseekers from engaging them for employment opportunities, it added.
MOM said it launched an investigation into Global Recruiters following two fee-related complaints against it. The complaints alleged that the company had charged fees to people seeking jobs in Europe and collected agency fees from them. It is not known what kind of job roles were being offered.
Similarly, MOM also investigated SDI Global following complaints made against the company that it had collected agency fees before emplacing jobseekers.
The Straits Times understands that the allegations were made against Global Recruiters in June 2023, while complaints against SDI Global were made in July.
The collection of agency fees before a jobseeker has been confirmed for the position is not permitted. This requirement is applicable even if employment agencies are facilitating overseas placements for jobseekers.
In its statement, MOM said that enforcement actions will be taken against such transgressions.
It advised people to refrain from paying agency fees to employment agencies when seeking jobs overseas, until their job applications are successful. The agency fee cap of no more than two months of salary is also applicable to the overseas job placement, said MOM.
Those who know of suspicious employment activities, such as agencies collecting agency fees before job placements are made or are overcharging fees, should report the matter to MOM via its eService, the agency said, adding that all information provided will be kept strictly confidential.