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Number of workers with claims of unpaid wages linked to air-con firm climbs to 400 | The Straits Times https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/number-of-workers-with-claims-of-unpaid-wages-linked-to-air-con-firm-climbs-to-400?utm_campaign=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawSnh75leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEewhyTtpIS_jeRH9OKdQfySXENvkgi2Es4mkv4Kdx1FOqb297LUh1G2azwdYg_aem_IK_mvmcq14CdnhFDauLHiQ   Here are the key details from *The Straits Times* report regarding the wage disputes involving the air-conditioning firms:   ### The Core Situation    * **Companies Involved:** **KPA Engineering** (established 2014) and **SK Industries** (established 2023). Both are air-con, plumbing, and building services firms linked to the same director.    * **The Scale:** Around **400 migrant workers** (primarily from India and Bangladesh) claim they are owed more than two months' worth of wages.    * **Missing Director:** The common business director, who is linked to five other active firms, has become completely uncontactable. Creditors have also been pursuing him over unpaid loans.   ### Immediate Impacts on Workers    * **Food & Housing Issues:** Many of the affected workers live at the **Tuas View Dormitory**. Their external food catering services suddenly stopped because the employers defaulted on payments (one supplier is reportedly owed around $4,000).  * **Escalation:** The situation came to light on June 22, when over 100 workers showed up at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Services Centre in Bendemeer. By June 23, an additional 100 workers came forward, bringing the total number of affected individuals to roughly 400.   ### Interventions and Assistance  * **NGO Support:** The **Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC)** stepped in to provide daily meals for the affected men and arranged transport to ferry them back to their dormitories from the MOM center.    * **Government & Legal Actions:** MOM and the **Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM)** are actively looking into the housing and salary claims.    * **Job Flexibility:** Affected workers are being issued **Special Passes**, allowing them to remain legally in Singapore and look for new employment while their salary cases are handled.   ### Systemic Challenges Migrant worker non-profits (like TWC2 and HOME) noted a couple of major difficulties facing the workers right now:    * **Agency Fees:** Finding a new employer through traditional employment agencies often costs up to two months' salary, which these workers cannot afford since they haven't been paid.    * **Delayed Reporting:** Workers often wait too long to report unpaid salaries because employers give empty promises of small, delayed payments, and workers fear losing their jobs or face immediate repatriation if they speak out early.

Wow the sounds and sights like anime

The theme song not bad