The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) initiated investigations on Monday based on the complaints from the first 100 workers and has targeted KPA Engineering and SK Industries.
The number of unpaid workers has increased since MOM began its inquiry. Some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that support migrants have also started their own investigations into the situation.
On Tuesday, an additional group of 100 migrant workers from India and Bangladesh informed authorities about issues related to unpaid wages and inadequate housing, as reported by The Straits Times.
The day prior, the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC), an NGO focused on fair employment practices and migrant workers’ welfare in Singapore, met with over 300 workers affected by the two companies and provided assistance.
Attempts to reach the directors of KPA Engineering and SK Industries, who are believed to be non-Singaporeans, were unsuccessful.
Both firms share a common director linked to five other companies that offer air-conditioning, plumbing, and building services.
KPA Engineering was founded in 2014 and currently has another active director, according to reports.
The shared director established SK Industries in 2023 and registered three companies in a single day in 2025, serving as the sole director for each.
Creditors have reportedly been attempting to contact one of the directors for several weeks regarding claims of unpaid loans, according to a daily publication in Singapore.
Food suppliers have recently stopped providing meals to the workers, citing a lack of payment.
On Tuesday, Michael Lim, director of the Migrant Workers Segment at the National Trade Union Congress, stated that MWC has connected with more than 300 affected laborers to offer support. The NGO has been supplying meals to these workers.
Meanwhile, MOM and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) are investigating the complaints about unpaid wages and other concerns, including housing situations, as reported by a broadsheet.
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The alliance mentioned that the affected workers are permitted to seek new employment while their complaints are being resolved.
Typically, workers are granted a Special Pass, which allows them to stay in Singapore legally while addressing issues like salary disputes and employment transfers.
Ethan Guo, executive director of Transient Workers Count Too, indicated that several workers from KPA Engineering contacted the non-profit organization a week ago and were advised to submit a salary claim to TADM.
Guo noted that while affected workers can transfer to new employers, they may incur fees from employment agencies.
“If they are fortunate enough to find a job through an agency, the standard fee is equivalent to two months’ salary for a two-year contract, which they cannot afford given their current financial challenges,” Guo was quoted as saying. He emphasized that MOM usually encourages workers to speak up and seek help if they are owed wages.
“However, the reality is that employers often convince workers to wait, sometimes making minimal payments in the interim,” he explained.
“Additionally, since workers have invested considerable sums in recruitment fees, they may hesitate to file complaints for fear of job loss, as employers can cancel their work permits and repatriate them at any moment,” he added.
Prashant Somosundram, deputy director of the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, mentioned that workers may not fully comprehend the claims process and may lack the necessary language skills and documentation to pursue their claims effectively.
“Currently, (migrant) workers often face very limited options to recover unpaid wages from bankrupt employers,” he stated.
“If workers have completed their work, they deserve to be paid. Wage recovery should not be viewed as charity or a discretionary gesture,” he remarked.
