Two Singaporeans were charged on 27 May 2025 in relation to unauthorised public assemblies involving foreign workers that took place in October 2024.
Rebecca Rubini Ravinthiran, 33, and Vee Derrick Mahendran, 36, are facing multiple charges under the Public Order Act and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).
On 26 May, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore Police Force issued a joint press release stating that Ravinthiran allegedly directed 15 foreign workers under her employment to gather outside two separate construction sites on 24 October 2024.
The workers were allegedly instructed to hold placards demanding payment for services owed to their employer, Apex Engineering.
Ravinthiran faces a total of 17 charges, comprising two charges under the Public Order Act and 15 under the EFMA.
The first alleged illegal public assembly took place at a construction site located at Block 324A Tengah Garden Walk, known as Parc Flora @ Tengah.
No fewer than nine foreign workers were allegedly instructed to gather and hold placards at that site.
Later that same morning, at around 11am, a second alleged illegal assembly took place at 91A Jalan Satu, Dakota Breeze, where at least six other workers under her employment gathered with placards.
Both assemblies were conducted without the necessary police permits, as required by law.
The EFMA charges allege that Ravinthiran instigated 15 foreign workers to breach the conditions of their work permits by involving them in the unauthorised public assemblies.
For two of these workers, she is additionally accused of directing them to prepare and distribute placards, and to coordinate participation among other workers.
Mahendran, the co-accused, faces 11 charges — two under the Public Order Act and nine under the EFMA.
He is alleged to have played a supporting role in organising both illegal assemblies by preparing placards a day before the incidents and liaising with Ravinthiran to ensure worker participation.
At the Tengah site, Mahendran allegedly ensured the attendance of at least nine foreign workers and supervised their involvement in the public protest.
He also reportedly updated Ravinthiran about the workers’ participation and conveyed her further instructions to them.
Mahendran’s EFMA charges relate to his role in aiding nine workers in contravening their work pass conditions by being involved in unauthorised assemblies.
Both accused are scheduled to return to court on 24 June 2025.
Public attention was drawn to the case in October 2024, when images circulated online showing migrant workers holding placards at a Geylang construction site.
The placards included phrases such as “outstanding amount” and references to unpaid sums.
The photos, initially posted by a passerby on Reddit, fuelled speculation about wage disputes involving migrant workers.
Protest near mrt , hope won’t affect commuters
by inSMRTRabak
Following this, MOM issued a statement via Facebook confirming it had investigated the matter.
The ministry reported that the workers in the photographs had not raised any salary or well-being concerns and were not owed wages at the time.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam also addressed the incident, stating that MOM was investigating whether the employer had deployed the workers illegally and abetted them in committing offences under the EFMA.
The Public Order Act in Singapore requires a permit for any public assembly.
A person convicted of organising an unauthorised public assembly may be fined up to S$5,000.
Under the EFMA, abetting a foreign worker to breach their work pass conditions carries penalties of up to 12 months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$10,000 or both.
Though no salary issues were identified in this instance, previous cases involving delayed or withheld wages have surfaced in recent years.
On 18 October 2022, workers at NCS Hub in Ang Mo Kio held placards demanding salaries owed by their employer, Shanghai Chong Kee.
MOM and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) were involved in mediating that case and secured full payments for the affected workers.
Workers at the industrial building NCS Hub in Ang Mo Kio held signs on 18 October 2022 to demand payment of owed salaries from Shanghai Chong Kee.
Authorities continue to advise all foreign workers facing employment-related concerns, including wage disputes, to contact MOM directly via its hotline at 64385122 or approach TADM for assistance.
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