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58 Arrested at Public Entertainment Outlets for Suspected Employment Offences

Foreign manpower Work passes and permits

On 23 October 2025, officers from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) conducted a joint enforcement operation at two public entertainment outlets. A total of 58 individuals were arrested during the operation under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 (EFMA). Of these, 32 were foreigners hired as performing artistes under the Work Permit (Performing Artiste) scheme, but found to have worked illegally without valid work passes at the two public entertainment outlets. The remaining 22 foreigners and four Singapore Permanent Residents were arrested for employment-related offences. Additionally, two more individuals were caught for possession of e-vaporisers, and six e-vaporisers were seized. Investigations against all parties are ongoing.

 

2 The Work Permit (Performing Artiste) scheme is intended for the employment of foreign performing artistes to work only in eligible public entertainment outlets for up to six months. MOM has been closely monitoring the hiring of foreign performing artistes through regular compliance and enforcement checks. In light of the persistent abuse, MOM has reviewed the scheme and will be announcing changes to it soon. 

 

3 Mr Adrian Quek, Divisional Director of MOM’s Foreign Manpower Management Division, said: “MOM will not tolerate any abuse of the work pass framework. Foreign workers must be engaged in legitimate employment. We will continue to take strong enforcement action against those who abuse the system and undermine the integrity of our work pass controls.” 

 

Penalties for employment offences

 

4 Under EFMA, employers must not employ a foreign employee unless the foreign employee has a valid work pass. Individuals convicted of employing a foreigner without a valid work pass are liable to a fine between $5,000 and $30,000, or to imprisonment for up one year, or to both.

 

5 Foreigners who are self-employed without a valid work pass may be liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000, or to imprisonment for up to two years, or to both. Upon conviction, they will be barred from working in Singapore.

 

6 Members of the public who are aware of suspicious employment activities, or who know of persons or employers who may have contravened the EFMA should report the matter to MOM via MOM’s eService “Report an infringement”. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential.