[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

SINGAPORE (Tier 1) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Singapore fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Singapore remained on Tier 1. These efforts included initiating more sex and labor trafficking investigations and convicting more traffickers. The government also identified more trafficking victims, including more labor trafficking victims, and provided services to more identified victims. The government implemented policies to protect foreign domestic workers against abuse and reintroduced and implemented a policy to protect migrant workers against exploitation. Although the government meets the minimum standards, the government did not initiate any prosecutions under the trafficking law for the third consecutive year. Despite the reports of trafficking indicators among the foreign domestic worker population, the government did not prosecute any cases of domestic servitude under the trafficking law. The government provided less funding for victim services. The government did not take steps to eliminate recruitment and placement fees charged to workers by Singaporean labor recruiters or ensure any recruitment fees were paid by employers.

Prioritized Recommendations

Using the 2014 anti-trafficking law, investigate and prosecute traffickers, including labor traffickers exploiting domestic workers, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.

Train law enforcement on trafficking indicators, including screening for debt manipulation and psychological coercion, with increased attention to individuals in commercial sex and individuals in debt; further train that screening cannot always occur the same day as victim identification.

Increase resources for investigative and prosecutorial training on trafficking for Ministry of Manpower (MOM) officials who handle labor inspections.

Increase efforts to proactively identify trafficking victims, particularly among vulnerable populations, including individuals in commercial sex and People’s Republic of China (PRC) nationals employed at PRC-affiliated company worksites.

Work with employers and NGOs to increase migrant workers’ access to helplines and reporting channels, including access to mobile phones.

Improve cooperation and dialogue with NGOs on victim assistance before, during, and after criminal investigations of traffickers.

Continue to implement reforms to the work permit sponsorship system so it does not provide excessive power to sponsors or employers in granting and maintaining the legal status of migrant workers.

Eliminate all recruitment or placement fees charged to workers by labor recruiters and ensure any fees are paid by employers.

Train judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials on the application of anti-trafficking laws, elements of trafficking, investigative techniques, and evidence collection specific to trafficking cases.

Strengthen the legal framework to ensure victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Publicize and expand the government’s formal policies to provide all victims – including trafficking victims with cases filed under the Penal Code, Women’s Charter, and other non-trafficking laws – the right to robust services, and refer all identified victims, including PRC national overseas workers, to protection services.