MOM 'did not advise' company to fire migrant worker over loan shark harassment; police duty officer had given employer's daughter general advice 'out of concern'

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) says it did not advise the employer of a migrant worker to fire him, a statement on the MOM’s Facebook page said on Saturday (6 April). The statement comes after the circulation of various videos and articles online claiming that Bangladeshi worker and author Md Sharif Uddin’s former employer had fired him based on advice from the MOM and the police, after alleged harassment from moneylenders.

“The termination of Mr Sharif’s employment was a decision by his employer,” wrote the post, a joint statement from the ministry and the Singapore Police Force. The MOM also said that the ministry, together with the police, have reached out to Sharif to address his concerns and offer their assistance.

The post added that the police are investigating if Sharif is a victim of intentional harassment, and that he is allowed to remain in Singapore while the investigations are ongoing.

The 46-year-old has been working in Singapore for the last 16 years, and has written several books about the circumstances of migrant workers in Singapore.

Copy of Sharif’s work permit, hell money sent to company’s office and employer’s daughter

In one of the videos that circulated online, Sharif said that he “received a huge shock” two months ago when his employer told him that a letter accusing Sharif of owing money, together with a photocopy of his work permit and joss paper money had been sent to the office address.

Claiming that he had never borrowed money, Sharif said he told his employer to seek help from the police and the MOM, but the loan sharks persisted with their harassment. He also made a police report himself.

“On 11 March, my employer gave me the termination letter, saying MOM and police had advised them to send me back,” he said in the video.

A copy of the alleged termination letter sent by Hiap Seng Piling Construction was shared with several media outlets, including Yahoo Southeast Asia.

Dated 11 March, it wrote that the decision was “under police and MOM advice… because of the troublesome bring along from your loan shark issue for us (sic).”

Sharif said “the employer’s HR department told me that because they wanted to do right by me, they would give me one month’s time to find a new employer, and consent to the transfer of my work permit”.

According to Sharif, the company advised him to start looking for a new employer.

“If I failed to secure a new employer, they would cancel my work permit by 12 April 2024, and I would have to return home,” Sharif shared.

He said he found employment with another company on 18 March, but did not reveal the company's name. Sharif said his new employer applied to the MOM for his work permit transfer on 19 March.

However, on 28 March, his new employer sent him photos of harassment messages that had been sent to the company's office, together again with scans of Sharif's work permit.

“The new company got scared and don’t want to hire me,” Sharif said.

Police officer had given advice 'out of concern'

The police and MOM confirmed that the daughter of Sharif’s employer had sought help at Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre on 9 March as “debtor’s notes and hell notes” had been sent to her residential address.

“In view of her concerns about the continued harassment at her home from unknown parties and the possible risks to her family’s safety, the on-duty officer said that the police would step up patrols around her home and alert her condominium’s security.”

“The officer, out of concern for her family’s and her well-being, also advised her generally that harassment would usually stop after the work pass of a foreign worker being harassed had been cancelled, and the worker no longer worked for the employer,” wrote the statement.

The MOM and police said that Sharif had also lodged a police report about the harassment he was receiving from unlicensed money lenders on 11 March.

The police had subsequently informed the daughter about Sharif's report and shared that it was possible that Sharif had not borrowed money from loan sharks.

Sharif's employer had contacted MOM with 'general query' but had not made reference to him

A representative of Sharif’s ex-employer contacted the MOM with a “general query on the cancellation of a worker’s work permit due to his alleged involvement in unlicensed moneylending activities, resulting in the employer facing harassment by unlicensed moneylenders” on 11 March., the MOM's post said.

“The representative did not make any reference to Mr Sharif during the call, or elaborate on the details of the case,” the MOM continued.

The ministry said it did not advise the employer to terminate Sharif’s employment, and that it “informed the employer that should the company decide to terminate a work permit, it must notify the worker, settle outstanding salaries and bear the cost of repatriation”.

According to The Straits Times, officers from the MOM had visited Sharif on 5 April, and told him that he can find a new company to work for in Singapore when the police conclude their investigations.

He also said he is waiting for the ministry and the Migrant Workers’ Centre to let him know if there will be support given when his current employment contract comes to an end, as he would need a place to stay while investigations are ongoing.

“I am hopeful that the relevant agencies will support me in getting to the bottom of my harassment (case) as well as in finding a stable, long-term job soon, so that my life can go on with further disruptions,” he said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.