The High Commission of India in Singapore has said it is working closely with local authorities and labour organisations to assist more than 400 migrant workers from India and Bangladesh who have reportedly been left without wages and accommodation by three Singapore-based companies.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, the Indian mission said it was in contact with the affected workers and coordinating with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM), both of which are providing support to those impacted by the crisis.

Workers Left Without Pay And Housing

The workers were employed by SK Industries, KPA Engineering and VVR Plant Engineering. According to a report by The Straits Times, they have gone unpaid for several months and are now facing uncertainty over accommodation and employment.

The workers formally approached the Ministry of Manpower on Monday, alleging that representatives of KPA Engineering and its related company, SK Industries, could no longer be contacted.

NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, representatives from the Migrant Workers’ Centre and Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash met affected workers on Wednesday and assured them of assistance.

Authorities have begun distributing SGD200 in cash along with supermarket vouchers to the workers. Alternative accommodation is also being arranged while efforts continue to connect eligible workers with new employment opportunities.

Director Reportedly Leaves Singapore

The Straits Times reported that the three companies share a common director, Indian national Ramu Palani Velu, who is a Singapore permanent resident and is believed to have left the country.

Corporate intelligence platform Sayari showed that Ramu serves as a director of seven Singapore-based companies involved in sectors such as air-conditioning, plumbing and building services.

Ng said the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management and other tripartite partners were attempting to establish contact with the employers involved in the case.

Investigations by local media traced Ramu’s business interests across multiple companies. He established KPA Engineering in 2014, which was last reported to have capital of SGD1 million.

Network Of Companies Under Scrutiny

According to the report, Ramu acquired VVR Plant Engineering, previously known as VMD Integrated, in 2025. The company had earlier been owned by Indian nationals Ravi Victor and Ravi Vijayarani, along with their Singaporean son Ravi Martin Abraham.

Martin Abraham, 23, said the family sold the company to Ramu because established firms with access to specialised work permits held significant value.

“It is not easy to obtain the permit for new companies, so we thought he bought our family business for that reason,” Abraham said.

The company possessed permits linked to Singapore’s specialised process sector, allowing construction and maintenance work at industrial facilities such as those on Jurong Island.

Records cited in the report show that Indian national Sundaramoorthy Komathy served as a director alongside Ramu at KPA Engineering between 2016 and 2018. Another director, Krishnamurthy Sundaramoorthy, joined the company in 2020 and remains listed as an active director.

Workers Seek Answers As Investigation Continues

One worker employed by KPA Engineering, identified only as Sam, said employees regarded Ramu as the “big boss”, while day-to-day operations were overseen by an Indian national known as Moorthy.

“We have been trying to contact Moorthy, but he has not responded,” Sam said.

Ramu’s business network expanded in recent years. In 2019, he incorporated Comfort Air Engineering, formerly known as Velmurugan Trading, with registered capital of SGD100,000 and currently serves as its sole director.

In 2023, he established SK Industries with capital of SGD200,000, where he also remains sole director. Sundaramoorthy Komathy is listed as a shareholder in the company.

Records further show that Ramu registered three additional companies on a single day in 2025: KMS Integrated, GM Integrated and HVS Industries. He serves as sole director of all three entities. KMS Integrated was registered with capital of SGD100,000, while GM Integrated and HVS Industries each had registered capital of SGD10,000.

Media reports said Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has launched investigations into KPA Engineering and SK Industries for possible regulatory breaches. Authorities, labour groups and diplomatic missions are now focused on supporting the affected workers while efforts continue to trace those responsible and recover unpaid wages.

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