Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, if you’re in Singapore on a work pass and leave the country for any reason, you might not be allowed back in for quite some time.
Many employees who made their living in Singapore have been affected as a result, and some have been torn from their families.
This, understandably, is because the government wants to reduce the number of imported cases in the country, which could lead to an outbreak if left unchecked.
Choosing to stay beyond the period of stay granted by the authorities, however, isn’t a great idea either.
4 Bangladeshis & 1 S’porean Arrested For Overstaying & Caught While Working As Cleaners
Five men were arrested on 13 Aug for immigration-related offences in an enforcement operation conducted by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
The ICA issued a statement on Monday (17 Aug) saying that four Bangladeshi nationals and one Singaporean, aged between 25 and 57 years, have been arrested for suspected immigration-related offences such as overstaying and remaining in Singapore without a valid pass and employment of immigration offenders.
In its statement, ICA said that their operation covered private residential premises in locations such as Moulmein, Novena, Geylang and River Valley, where the suspected workers were caught engaged in cleaning services work.
Investigations are ongoing.
Harsh Penalties Await Offenders
ICA said it takes a firm stance against any person who attempts to stay beyond the period of stay granted, as well as those who employ immigration offenders (IO).
And harsh penalties await those who choose to do so anyway.
Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), anyone found guilty of employing an IO faces imprisonment for six months to two years and a fine of up to S$6,000.
And those guilty of overstaying face a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
ICA reminded employers and homeowners that they have a responsibility to exercise due diligence in checking the status of foreigners before offering them employment or renting out their premises.
This will help ensure the safety and security of Singapore, they said.
Three Useful Checks
But how exactly do you go about verifying the status of the people you rent your homes out to?
According to The Straits Times, there are three things you can do before renting out your premises to foreigners:
- check the tenant’s original immigration or work pass
- cross-check the particulars on the tenant’s pass against the particulars on his original passport
- verify the validity of his pass by checking with the issuing authority
Even if you carried out one or two of these checks, but were found to harbour overstayers or illegal immigrants, you could still face a hefty fine and a lengthy stint in jail.
So, it’s probably a good idea to carry out all three.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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