Director behind three firms in migrant wage crisis returns to Singapore — passport impounded
Ramu Palani Velu, Indian national and Singapore permanent resident, is assisting with investigations as MOM works to place over 400 affected workers in new employment
The director behind three companies at the centre of a migrant worker wage dispute has returned to Singapore and surrendered his passport to authorities, Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash confirmed on 28 June 2026.
Ramu Palani Velu, an Indian national holding Singapore permanent residency, is currently assisting the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) with investigations into KPA Engineering Pte Ltd, SK Industries Pte Ltd, and VVR Plant Engineering Pte Ltd — three companies whose workers have reported months of unpaid wages.
According to local media, Dinesh made the announcement during a visit to Kranji Recreation Centre, where he met workers from all three firms and helped distribute meals.
"MOM takes a serious view of breaches to the Employment Act and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act," Dinesh said, adding that action would be taken if necessary.
Background to the dispute
The wage dispute first came to public attention on 22 June 2026, when over 100 workers presented themselves at MOM's service centre in Bendemeer with complaints that KPA Engineering and SK Industries had failed to pay wages for more than two months.
By 23 June, more than 400 workers across three companies — KPA Engineering, SK Industries, and VVR Plant Engineering — were confirmed to be affected. Workers said they had also faced disruption to their food supply after an external caterer, who claimed it had not been paid by the employer, stopped providing meals.
Most affected workers are Indian and Bangladeshi nationals who had been housed at Tuas View Dormitory.
Job placements and financial assistance
Dinesh said on 28 June that 20 workers have already secured alternative employment, with MOM aiming to place the remainder in equivalent sectors within the next two to three weeks.
Labour chief Ng Chee Meng said on 26 June that more than 80 companies had expressed interest in taking in the affected workers, with close to 400 job vacancies identified and placements set to begin the following week.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) said they would draw from their own funds to provide each worker with S$200 in cash and vouchers for daily expenses, for workers who are MWC members or who register to become one.
230 of the affected workers have been relocated from Tuas View Dormitory to MOM's Onboard Centre in Punggol.
The Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) is assisting workers to file salary claims directly.
Corporate records
ACRA records obtained by The Online Citizen show that Ramu holds Singapore permanent residency and is listed as director of seven Singapore-registered companies, all providing air-conditioning, plumbing, and building-related services.
Four of those companies — KPA Engineering, SK Industries, KPA Services, and VVR Plant Engineering — share a common registered office at unit #08-10, Westech Building, 237 Pandan Loop.
Three additional companies — KMS Integrated, GM Integrated, and HVS Industries — were registered on a single day in 2025, with Ramu listed as sole director of each.
MOM has confirmed investigations into KPA Engineering and SK Industries. It has not confirmed whether the other companies linked to Ramu are also under investigation, nor has it disclosed the total number of work permits issued across the seven entities.
A second director of KPA Engineering is identified in ACRA records as a foreign national. MOM has not confirmed whether that individual has been contacted as part of the investigation.
TOC submitted questions to MOM on 24 June 2026 on the work permit classifications and quota compliance of the companies. No response has been received at the time of publication.
