Two Individuals Convicted for Failing to Pay Salaries to Employees
Sim Ling Zhen, a 31-year-old Singaporean woman, and her husband, Wu Wenchun, a 37-year-old Singaporean, have been convicted of salary-related offences under the Employment Act 1968 (“EA”). On 25 July 2025, Sim Ling Zhen and Wu Wenchun were sentenced to a total fine of $144,000. They were each sentenced to a fine of $72,000, in default 66 weeks’ imprisonment.
2 Sim Ling Zhen and Wu Wenchun were each charged with 24 counts of salary offences under the EA. They each pleaded guilty to 12 charges, with the remaining 12 charges taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing. Over 103 employees were affected for the salary period from August 2022 to December 2022 across three companies: Royal Cuisine Group Pte Ltd, Yanxi Pte Ltd and Healthy Meals Catering Pte Ltd. Of the approximately $432,000 owed to the 103 employees, only $73,000 was eventually paid.
Case Details
3 Sim Ling Zhen and Wu Wenchun were the registered Director and General Manager respectively of the abovenamed companies which operated numerous catering services under the brand names “Royal Cuisine Group”, “Tingkat Singapore”, “Angel Confinement Meals”, “Happy Mamapapa Catering”, “Vegetarian Buffet” and the former restaurant “Yanxi” at Chin Swee Road. These catering brands were earlier reported by members of the public in 2022 over their failure to fulfil meal orders. Sim Ling Zhen and Wu Wenchun had actively managed the operations of these catering brands.
4 Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM”) revealed that both accused persons started to accrue salary arrears in August 2022. In December 2022, the companies’ premises were closed by the landlords due to rental arrears. Sim Ling Zhen and Wu Wenchun failed to fully inform the employees of the companies’ situation and disregarded their concerns even after the closure. As a result, 103 employees were left stranded with up to three months of salary arrears.
5 Sim Ling Zhen and Wu Wenchun were also uncooperative when employees sought assistance from MOM and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (“TADM”). They failed to attend mediation sessions, repeatedly missed appointments, and did not provide their most current residential address during investigations.
6 Despite providing them with ample time to make salary restitutions to the affected employees, Sim Ling Zhen and Wu Wenchun did not make appreciable efforts to do so.
7 Most of the affected local workers have since found new employment. TADM had assisted the former employees, including providing them with financial assistance and linking them up with NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) for employment facilitation.
Advisory to Employers
8 Under the EA, employers convicted for failing to pay salaries in accordance with Part 3 of the EA will be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $3,000 and not more than $15,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both; and if the employer is a repeat offender, to a fine of not less than $6,000 and not more than $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
9 MOM takes a serious view of the non-payment of salaries. We will continue to take firm action against errant offenders who fail to comply with our employment laws. These include individuals like Sim Ling Zhen and Wu Wenchun, the registered Director and General Manager who were responsible for the large amount of salary arrears accrued.
10 Members of the public who are aware of suspected employment law contraventions such as non-payment of salaries should report the matter to MOM via MOM’s eService “Report an infringement” as soon as possible so that MOM and TADM can render the necessary assistance. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential.