Four men, aged between 39 and 47, are expected to be charged in court on 1 August 2025 for their alleged involvement in a cheating scheme linked to Workforce Singapore’s (WSG) Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs), now known as Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs).
WSG’s PCP initiative was created to support mid-career Singaporeans transitioning into new industries or roles, offering salary support and training subsidies to employers. However, in this case, the programme appears to have been exploited by individuals who allegedly falsified salary records and employment statuses to secure government payouts.
Fabricated Salaries, Fake Employment and Falsified Payslips
The four accused include a former company director, another serving director, and two employees from a wholesale firm specialising in computer hardware and peripheral equipment. Authorities say that between June 2018 and October 2019, the 45-year-old ex-director registered two of the men under the PCP scheme. He is accused of falsely declaring to WSG’s appointed programme partner, Supply Chain Asia Community Ltd (SCA), that the two were receiving the stated salaries in their contracts—when in reality, they were not.
The 47-year-old director allegedly submitted doctored payslips between April and July 2019 to support these false claims. Meanwhile, the 39-year-old employee reportedly continued pretending to be employed at the firm to help sustain the deception and ensure continued grant disbursements, even after his resignation.
Adding to the scheme’s complexity, the 46-year-old employee is said to have worked with the ex-director to inflate his CPF contributions, making it appear that he was earning a much higher salary than he actually was.
Total Payouts and Potential Penalties
The deception led to SCA disbursing $89,100 in salary support and an additional $10,010 in training subsidies—funds meant to genuinely aid workforce transformation.
If convicted, the men face stiff penalties. For each charge of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, they could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. For falsifying accounts under Section 477A, each offence carries up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Firm Reminder Against Misuse of Public Funds
The Singapore Police Force issued a strong warning, reiterating its zero-tolerance stance towards abuse of public schemes. “The Police take a serious view against the abuse of Government grants, and offenders will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law,” the statement read.
This case serves as a reminder that while government support schemes aim to empower jobseekers and employers, misuse of such programmes can result in severe consequences—and authorities are watching closely.