SINGAPORE - In the second half of 2024, 42 out of 63 migrant workers who were victims of kickback offenses in Singapore received full restitution during investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the ministry said on Monday.

An additional seven workers received partial restitution, while 14 had yet to recover any funds by the end of the ministry's investigations, the MOM said in response to a parliamentary question on the number of victims who have recovered their monies over the past five years.

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For cases that proceed to prosecution, courts may order defendants to compensate victims if they have not done so, the ministry added.

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In early February, the MOM urged migrant workers to "come forward early" to report kickback practices, following a case where a contracting company was found to have collected illegal fees as a condition for work pass renewals.

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As of June 2024, Singapore had a workforce of more than 1.5 million foreign workers, according to the ministry's latest data.