By Ben Nadarajan

THE Manpower Ministry (MOM) is getting tough on employers who lie about their employees' status to save on paying the worker's levy or to get around employment quotas.

Most previous offenders have only been fined. But for the first time last month, MOM prosecutor Zuraidah Mahat pressed for a jail term for Celine Tan Bee Thin, owner of Lai Lai Seafood Restaurant in Upper Aljunied Road.

Ms Tan had already been found guilty of lying to the authorities to get employment passes for five China chefs. She claimed they were being paid a salary of $2,510 - to meet the minimum salary requirement for an employment pass - when in fact she was paying them only $1,000 each.

For more, go to straitstimes.com