SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is investigating an allegedly fraudulent work injury claim highlighted by Jane Lee, the late owner of Sumo Salad, who passed away on 19 July after raising alarm over the suspected scam involving a foreign employee.
Speaking during a media doorstop at the Tripartite Connect event on 24 July 2025, Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash confirmed that MOM had been in communication with Lee before her passing.
He extended his condolences to Lee’s family and assured that the ministry would work with the insurer to manage the necessary claims.
He added that there is also an ongoing police investigation, and more details will be released once the probe is completed.
He stressed that when there are clear instances of dishonest behaviour by employees, appropriate action must be taken to safeguard both employers and the wider workforce.
“For cases where there are egregious behaviours of employees, then action has to be taken to ensure that it is in the interest of the employees themselves not to be injured,” Dinesh added.
Jane Lee passed away after raising alarm over alleged foreign worker injury claim scam
Jane Lee died a day after posting two Facebook messages on 18 July, where she shared troubling details of an alleged fraudulent workplace injury claim involving a foreign worker. She claimed the ordeal had caused immense distress to her and her business operations.
Lee, who was in her 40s and a mother of two, alleged that the ex-employee had staged a fall just two days before the end of her employment contract, in an attempt to claim compensation.
Lee further alleged that the worker’s husband and possibly a law firm had helped plan the purported scam. She warned that small businesses without comprehensive insurance were especially vulnerable to such schemes.
“If they find one without proper insurance coverage, they instil fear and try to extort money,” Lee claimed in her post. She added that if the business is insured, such workers might seek larger payouts by exaggerating injuries or claiming permanent disabilities.
In her final words online, Lee urged the authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly to protect other small business owners from similar ploys.
“I’m truly sorry that I couldn’t find the strength to face this battle on my own,” she wrote to her family and children.
Calls for MOM to balance safeguards for workers and small business owners
Jane Lee’s passing has sparked an outpouring of sympathy, with many small business owners highlighting the immense pressure they face when handling workplace injury disputes.
Numerous netizens have since come forward with their own experiences of suspected false workplace injury claims, calling for greater balance in protecting both employers and employees under Wica.
Many are urging MOM to step up checks on dubious claims and ensure that genuine injuries are supported while false claims are prosecuted.
Ongoing police probe and MOM’s response
In a statement on 21 July, MOM confirmed it had been looking into the allegedly fraudulent claim involving a worker employed by EatGreen Pte Ltd, which operates Sumo Salad.
MOM reiterated that the worker involved was covered under the Work Injury Compensation (WIC) Act, which allows employees to claim compensation for injuries and occupational diseases sustained at work or due to work.
The ministry highlighted that those who abuse the system can face serious consequences.
In 2021, two foreign employees were jailed for three and four weeks respectively after being convicted of making fraudulent claims under Wica and giving false information to MOM officers.
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