Eleven employment agencies (EA) have had their licenses revoked by the Ministry of Manpower this year.

According to a statement released by the ministry, this is the highest number of licenses revoked in three years, and is the result of stepped up investigations.

These are are due to infringements under the Employment Agencies Act or the Employment of Foreign Manpower (EFMA) Act. These infringes range from assisting unlicensed EAs to submit work permit applications, to abetting the illegal deployment of foreign domestic workers (FDWs).

Aside from having their licenses revoked, their security deposits have also been forfeited. Moreover, the licensees and directors of the EAs are prohibited from holding EA licences and office appointments in other EAs. The duration of the debarment will vary depending on the severity of infringement committed.

Among these cases, Smart Employment Agency, which is licensed to Sangeetha Rai, was fined the most for several infringements.

She was fined $4,000 for falsely declaring in a WP application that one FDW would be under her employment, when this is untrue.

She was also fined $10,350 for aiding and abetting the illegal employment of the same FDW.

In addition, the licensee was fined $5,000 for aiding and abetting one employer to falsely declare that he would be the employer of one FDW.

Mr Aw Kum Cheong, Divisional Director of the Foreign Manpower Management Division, MOM said: "The activities of unlicensed EAs compromise the welfare of foreign workers brought in. Foreign workers recruited by such unlicensed EAs could also end up working illegally. Licensed EAs who collude with unlicensed EAs by submitting work permit applications on their behalf are abetting the circumvention of the law. We remind employment agencies not to risk their licence for the sake of illgotten benefits."