19-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has responded to the recent incident at Chicken Pie Kitchen and Don Signature Crab, both located in Jalan Besar, stating that their inspection, which took place earlier this week, was conducted appropriately. The controversy arose when the restaurant owners posted on Facebook, alleging that individuals claiming to be from the ministry forcefully entered the premises and demanded to see employees’ personal identification cards.
The Facebook post claimed that the MOM officers entered various areas of the restaurant, including the cashier and pastry rooms, without permission. Furthermore, the officers allegedly neglected to wear masks or spit guards, which are mandatory for food handlers working in such environments.
However, in their official statement released on Wednesday, MOM refuted these claims. According to a spokesperson, the officers were equipped with MOM warrant cards and duly identified themselves while explaining the purpose of the inspection to the restaurant staff. The ministry asserted that the officers acted politely, respectfully, and with composure throughout the entire inspection, taking care not to disrupt the company’s operations or inconvenience the diners present at the time.
Photographs obtained by CNA revealed that the MOM officers occupied at least two tables in the 25-seater restaurant during the inspection. Kelvin Leong, the restaurant’s director, informed CNA that the food preparation was adversely affected on the evening of the inspection and the following morning. As a result, Tuesday’s sales were 28% lower than the previous week due to the inability to produce the usual quantities of food.
The Ministry of Manpower has expressed concern regarding possible employment-related offenses involving two foreign workers discovered at the restaurant. Consequently, these individuals were asked to cease work immediately. Investigations into the company for potential employment-related breaches have been initiated by MOM.
Kelvin Leong expressed his confusion regarding the exact nature of the alleged breach, as no specific information has been provided by the ministry. Despite reviewing the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, Leong was unable to identify any offense committed by his employees.
Vanessa Tan, another director of the restaurant, arrived at the premises during the inspection and inquired about the next steps and the potential duration of the investigation. According to her, the MOM officers responded in a dismissive and loud manner, stating, “it’s your business.” They further announced within the restaurant that the two investigated workers were prohibited from working, concluding with a threatening remark that they would return to apprehend them if necessary.
Both Tan and Leong questioned why the MOM officers did not take the workers away immediately if they were genuinely involved in any offense. Leong, who observed the entire incident through the restaurant’s closed-circuit television system, reported that the staff were uncertain about the legitimacy of the individuals claiming to be MOM officers. Concerned that they might be scammers seeking to steal personal data, the employees were alarmed when the officers started taking photos of their identification cards without providing any official letters or documents.
A staff member, who requested anonymity, revealed that the atmosphere changed when they inquired about the MOM officers’ identities. The staff member stated that the officers became increasingly aggressive and insisted they were government officials, forbidding any queries about their information. MOM, in response, emphasized that their officers are issued with identifiable warrant cards featuring the MOM logo and a photograph.
Kelvin Leong questioned the timing of the inspection, deeming it highly unusual. He sought advice from friends in the food and beverage industry who confirmed that inspections are typically conducted during regular office hours to facilitate communication with MOM officials. However, in this case, the information was only provided to the staff after 5:30 pm, well beyond office hours.
In light of these concerns, MOM advised companies or members of the public to verify the identity of MOM officers by calling their hotline during regular office hours. The ministry stated that they provided the contact number of a supervisor to one of the restaurant directors, and the director was reassured of the officers’ authenticity after conversing with the MOM supervisor.
Mr. Leong, however, expressed reservations about the legitimacy of the number provided to him and claimed that two MOM officers entered the restaurant through the back door, catching the staff by surprise.
