According to the Police media release, 138 people are under investigation following an island-wide enforcement check on 238 massages establishments.
At least 100 massage establishments were found to have breaches under the Massage Establishments Act.
Special services
These reportedly include carrying on a business of offering massage services at a massage establishment without a valid licence and failing to guarantee staff do not give “special” services in violation of the Massage Establishments Rules 2018.
Four massage parlours were allegedly found to have violated the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 and the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Reopening – Control Order) Regulations 2022. These include claimed failures to minimize encounters between staff and customers on licensed premises, as well as failure to guarantee that all employees and consumers wear masks on licensed premises.
For first-time violations, establishments may face a 10-day closure order and a $1,000 punishment, while clients who were detected not complying may face the same penalty.
Arrest
A total of 39 women were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961 and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990.
Individuals found guilty of carrying on a business of providing massage services in an establishment for massage without a valid licence under Section 5(1) of the Massage Establishments Act 2017 are liable to a fine of $10,000, imprisonment of up two years, or both. Those found to have breached the prescribed rules and conditions under the Massage Establishments Rules 2018 are liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
Individuals who are repeat offenders of the Massage Establishments Act 2017 are liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, while repeat offenders of the Massage Establishments Rules 2018 will be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.
For non-compliance with safe distancing measures under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 and the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Reopening – Control Order) Regulations 2022, individuals found guilty may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.