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Viewing cable 07SINGAPORE401, SINGAPORE: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07SINGAPORE401 2007-02-28 07:42 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Singapore
VZCZCXRO9803
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHGP #0401/01 0590742
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 280742Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2536
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2433
RUEAHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 SINGAPORE 000401 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS AID, STATE FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, AND 
EAP/RSP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KRFD ASEC PREF ELAB SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT 
SUBMISSION (PART 1 OF 3) 
 
REF: STATE 202745 
 
1. (U) This is the first of three messages relaying Embassy 
Singapore's 2007 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 
submission.  The Embassy point of contact is: 
 
Christopher Kavanagh 
Phone: (65) 6476-9182 
Fax: (65) 6476-9389 
Email: kavanaghcr@state.gov 
 
2. (U) Per the request in para 26 of Reftel, to date the 
Embassy has spent the following time on the TIP report: COM: 
3 hours; FE-MC: 5 hours; FS-2: 10 hours; FS-2: 160 hours. 
 
3. (U) Begin text of submission: 
 
I.  OVERVIEW 
 
-- A. Is the country a country of origin, transit, or 
destination for internationally trafficked men, women, or 
children?  Provide, where possible, numbers or estimates for 
each group; how they were trafficked, to where, and for what 
purpose.  Does the trafficking occur within the country's 
borders?  Does it occur in territory outside of the 
government's control (e.g. in a civil war situation)?  Are 
any estimates or reliable numbers available as to the extent 
or magnitude of the problem?   What is (are) the source(s) of 
available information on trafficking in persons or what plans 
are in place (if any) to undertake documentation of 
trafficking? How reliable are the numbers and these sources? 
Are certain groups of persons more at risk of being 
trafficked (e.g. women and children, boys versus girls, 
certain ethnic groups, refugees, etc.)? 
 
Singapore is a destination country for a limited number of 
women and girls trafficked for the purpose of prostitution 
and, in rare instances, foreign domestic workers who 
voluntarily come to Singapore to work but are subsequently 
subjected to conditions that may rise to the level of 
trafficking.  Singapore is not a country of origin for 
trafficked persons, either for sex or labor.  There is no 
internal trafficking in persons.  Post is not aware of any 
cases of trafficking victims transiting through Singapore. 
Singapore authorities do not consistently screen the several 
million transit passengers who pass through the transit 
lounge at Changi Airport each year.  U.S. Immigrations and 
Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at post do not believe 
Singapore is a major hub for people smuggling, a circumstance 
that further reduces the likelihood that there are a large 
number of undetected trafficking victims in transit. 
 
There are no numerical estimates of the magnitude of 
trafficking in Singapore.  The number of cases that the 
Embassy has identified through discussions with the 
government, NGOs, and foreign Embassy consular contacts is 
under 100; however, given that Singapore has a sizable sex 
industry (prostitution per se is not illegal), it is possible 
that the total number of victims exceeds 100.  Estimates of 
the numbers of women who may have been trafficked are based 
primarily on police interviews with women involved in the sex 
trade and anecdotal evidence of local NGOs.  While these 
organizations are reliable, they rely heavily on voluntary 
disclosure by victims, and may therefore underestimate the 
number of persons trafficked.  Most NGOs, government 
contacts, source country consular officials, and U.S. law 
enforcement officials working in Singapore agree that the 
overall number of trafficking victims is probably small. 
 
-- B. Please provide a general overview of the trafficking 
situation in the country and any changes since the last TIP 
Report (e.g. changes in direction).  Also briefly explain the 
political will to address trafficking in persons. Other items 
to address may include:  What kind of conditions are the 
victims trafficked into?  Which populations are targeted by 
the traffickers?  Who are the traffickers?  What methods are 
used to approach victims? (Are they offered lucrative jobs, 
sold by their families, approached by friends of friends, 
etc.?)  What methods are used to move the victims (e.g., are 
false documents being used?). 
 
Local NGOs say that the number of trafficking victims in 2006 
may have declined compared to 2005, due to a decrease in the 
number of foreign prostitutes in Singapore.  The local NGOs 
 
SINGAPORE 00000401  002 OF 006 
 
 
say the immigration authorities are allowing fewer foreign 
prostitutes to enter the country, particularly from China, 
and have enhanced anti-vice enforcement in non-traditional 
"red light" areas.  In June, the police announced tougher 
regulations for massage parlors, requiring them to, inter 
alia, register with the police, conduct their business in 
full view of the public, and cease having their employees 
solicit business.  The new measures came after public 
complaints about massage parlors' opening in public housing 
estates, outside of traditional "red light" areas.  At the 
same time, however, the GOS reported that 60 females under 
the age of 18 were arrested for prostitution, up from 48 in 
2005.  (Note: Post has requested more detailed data from the 
Ministry of Home Affairs on arrests for prostitution.  End 
Note.) 
 
Nearly all of the known or suspected trafficking cases in 
2006 involved sex trafficking, in part because of vigorous 
government efforts to better protect domestic workers.  None 
of the sex trafficking victims appears to have been confined 
by the traffickers or subjected to physical violence. 
Consular officials from Embassies of source countries report 
that the cases they encounter usually involve women who come 
to Singapore voluntarily to work in the sex trade or 
elsewhere who then face some sort of coercion, usually 
psychological, not physical, by agents or pimps.  Typical 
stories involve women who were told they could find jobs here 
in a restaurant or bar, but arrived to find that legitimate 
work was not available or paid very poorly.  Now alone in 
Singapore, and often having borrowed money for their travel 
expenses, they do not want to or cannot go home empty handed, 
and enter the sex trade either of their own volition or at 
the urging of a recruiter.  Consular officers and NGOs report 
that few such women are physically threatened or abused.  For 
the few maids who face severe abuse that may rise to the 
level of trafficking, all come to Singapore willingly to work 
but are ultimately exploited by their employers -- through 
nonpayment of wages, illegal confinement, and physical or 
psychological abuse. 
 
The Government of Singapore is committed to combating 
trafficking in persons, as it is committed to stamping out 
all kinds of organized crime and corruption.  Singapore 
leaders place great stress on achieving a very low crime rate 
and maintaining extremely tight immigration controls. 
Singapore has strengthened its already tough immigration 
controls since 2001.  While it adopted these controls 
primarily for security reasons and to prevent a large influx 
of undocumented workers, the controls also effectively serve 
to prevent large-scale trafficking in persons into Singapore. 
 Singapore also has allowed employers to legally bring in 
large numbers of domestic and unskilled workers, and at 
relatively low wages (Singapore does not impose a minimum 
wage); with ready access to inexpensive foreign labor through 
legal channels, few employers wish to risk draconian 
penalties by hiring illegal employees or exploiting 
trafficking victims. 
 
At the 2007 ASEAN Summit in Cebu, which Prime Minister Lee 
Hsien Loong attended, Singapore endorsed the ASEAN 
Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of 
Migrant Workers.  Under the Declaration, receiving states are 
obligated to intensify efforts to protect the fundamental 
human rights, promote the welfare and uphold the dignity of 
migrant workers; promote fair and appropriate employment 
protection, payment of wages, and adequate access to decent 
working and living conditions for migrant workers; and 
provide migrant workers who may be victims of discrimination, 
abuse, exploitation, or violence with adequate access to the 
legal and judicial system. 
 
Local NGOs report that the Police, Ministry of Community 
Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), and Ministry of 
Manpower (MOM) have continued to increase their efforts to 
work in concert with them and other civic groups to promote 
public education about trafficking (through school programs 
and publicity campaigns, for example) and to improve 
enforcement efforts.  One NGO reported that the MCYS Minister 
encouraged them to submit a proposal for a shelter and the 
GOS would provide the facility.  NGO contacts and consular 
officials here say the authorities fully investigate any 
allegations of trafficking and are anxious to prosecute 
traffickers.  In fact, a common complaint is that 
investigations are so thorough that they often take months, 
 
SINGAPORE 00000401  003 OF 006 
 
 
requiring witnesses and victims to remain in Singapore.  The 
consensus among Embassy contacts in civil society and 
diplomatic circles is that Singapore is willing to devote 
whatever resources are necessary to combating these crimes. 
 
-- C.  What are the limitations on the government's ability 
to address this problem in practice?  For example, is funding 
for police or other institutions inadequate?  Is overall 
corruption a problem?  Does the government lack the resources 
to aid victims? 
 
The government has both the will and the resources to combat 
trafficking in persons; the largest limitations on its 
ability to address the problem are the generally 
uncooperative nature of the victims and the difficulty of 
obtaining evidence.  Overall, the Police, NGOs, and 
source-country embassies tell us that the women involved in 
prostitution do not often allege force or coercion.  The vast 
majority of the women do not face any criminal or immigration 
charges and generally choose to tell the Police they were 
acting of their own free will in order to be allowed to 
return home immediately rather than remain in Singapore for 
months.  When women do allege trafficking, they are often not 
able to provide many details about their traffickers, and the 
police and NGOs tell us that their stories are often 
difficult to verify, particularly when contradicted by their 
coworkers.  Also, the trafficking rings themselves do not 
appear to be physically present in Singapore, but operate out 
of source countries with (at most) a few low-level agents or 
pimps present in Singapore.  As a result, the actual 
traffickers are generally beyond the reach of the Singapore 
Police.  Some embassies remove victims from Singapore to 
pursue an investigation in the source country rather than 
press charges in Singapore. 
 
-- D. To what extent does the government systematically 
monitor its anti-trafficking efforts (on all fronts -- 
prosecution, prevention and victim protection) and 
periodically make available, publicly or privately and 
directly or through regional/international organizations, its 
assessments of these anti-trafficking efforts? 
 
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) keeps extensive records on 
persons passing through border checkpoints, as well as 
records on all detentions, arrests, investigations, 
prosecutions and convictions, and publishes an annual report 
on crime in the first quarter of each year.  More detailed 
information on crime statistics is available upon request; 
local NGOs tell us that MHA has been forthcoming in response 
to their requests for such information.  The Ministry of 
Manpower (MOM) keeps records on all allegations of maid abuse 
and the outcomes of their investigations, as well as other 
violations of the regulations governing employment of foreign 
workers.  MOM makes information on abuse allegations and 
prosecutions as well as violations by employment agencies 
available on its website.  The Ministry of Community 
Development, Youth and Sports keeps records on all cases 
where it has provided access to shelter or medical or 
psychological care. 
 
II. PREVENTION 
 
-- A. Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a 
problem in the country?  If not, why not? 
 
The government of Singapore acknowledges that a small number 
of the foreign prostitutes in Singapore have probably been 
forced or coerced into the sex trade.  The government also 
acknowledges that it continues to have a maid-abuse problem. 
Although it prosecutes all cases of abuse, it does not 
classify severe cases of abuse as trafficking.  The GOS's 
assessment -- shared by this Embassy -- is that trafficking 
in persons is not widespread.  Authorities remain vigilant 
and continue to take actions that directly or indirectly 
reduce the likelihood of trafficking.  The government also 
does not describe as "trafficking" some cases that we would 
so classify: these cases include 16- and 17-year olds 
wittingly and willingly engaged in prostitution, and "work 
disputes" involving women who entered Singapore for the 
purpose of prostitution.  Despite these definitional 
differences, the government prosecutes the vice operators 
involved in these cases when it has prosecution witnesses. 
As part of a comprehensive revision of the Penal Code, the 
government will raise the age of consent for commercial sex 
 
SINGAPORE 00000401  004 OF 006 
 
 
to 18.  The government has indicated that the revisions will 
be submitted to Parliament in the first half of 2007. 
 
-- B. Which government agencies are involved in anti- 
trafficking efforts and which agency, if any, has the lead? 
 
Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority controls 
the borders and looks for illegal immigrants, including 
trafficking victims, and for persons who employ or harbor 
illegal immigrants. 
 
The police monitor the sex industry, including through the 
use of informants, street patrols (uniformed and undercover), 
and electronic surveillance.  They interview women detained 
for public solicitation and pimps (both public solicitation 
and pimping are illegal) and look for coercion.  Police also 
investigate allegations or suspicions of maid abuse.  Until 
shortly before trial, the police are responsible for law 
enforcement-related interaction with witnesses in criminal 
cases, including trafficking-related ones. 
 
The Attorney General's Chambers prosecutes both trafficking 
and domestic abuse cases. 
 
The Ministry of Manpower investigates complaints by foreign 
workers about pay or working conditions, attempts to resolve 
problems through mediation or enforcement action, works with 
employment agencies to improve business practices and 
encourage the industry to police itself, and carries out 
education efforts among both employers and employees. 
 
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth, and Sports 
assists victims with counseling and obtaining temporary 
shelter, if required, and is involved in public education 
campaigns to raise awareness of trafficking crimes such as 
child prostitution. 
 
-- C. Are there, or have there been, government-run 
anti-trafficking information or education campaigns?  If so, 
briefly describe the campaign(s), including their objectives 
and effectiveness.  Do these campaigns target potential 
trafficking victims and/or the demand for trafficking (e.g. 
"clients" of prostitutes or beneficiaries of forced labor)? 
 
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has continued and expanded its 
information campaign that aims to raise awareness among 
foreign workers, including maids, of their rights and the 
resources available to them.  Since February 2006, it has 
printed information on employees' rights and police hotline 
numbers for maids on prepaid phone cards (popular with 
foreign workers).  In October 2006, MOM started a newsletter 
that is mailed directly to foreign domestic workers.  The 
newsletter includes information on their rights and 
responsibilities, as well as on the importance of workplace 
safety.  In December 2006, MOM mailed an information booklet 
to employers of foreign domestic workers which explained 
their rights and responsibilities and noted the criminal 
penalties that can and have been imposed in cases of abuse. 
In addition, the government highlights Singapore's tough laws 
against abuse of domestics or harboring illegal immigrants. 
Government-linked media run regular features on domestic 
worker abuse and exploitation and widely publicize 
convictions.  Prominent examples include an employer who was 
sentenced in October 2006 to nine months in jail for scalding 
and hitting her maid and another employer who was sentenced 
in February 2007 to one year and nine months in jail for 
physically abusing her maid.  Public shaming is considered a 
significant part of the justice system's punishment and 
deterrence efforts; NGO contacts say that press coverage 
given to abuse cases and other foreign worker issues, 
combined with Singapore's regulations and efforts to 
publicize those regulations, has had a positive impact on the 
welfare of the foreign workers here. 
 
-- D. Does the government support other programs to prevent 
trafficking? (e.g., to promote women's participation in 
economic decision-making or efforts to keep children in 
school.)  Please explain. 
 
This question seems addressed to countries that are origin 
countries for trafficking victims; Singapore is not a victim 
origin country.  Singapore has a first-world economy and has 
legally protected women's equal rights to education, 
employment and independence since 1961.  Education is 
 
SINGAPORE 00000401  005 OF 006 
 
 
compulsory. 
 
-- E. What is the relationship between government officials, 
NGOs, other relevant organizations and other elements of 
civil society on the trafficking issue? 
 
Civil society organizations involved in combating trafficking 
in persons indicate that they continue to enjoy excellent 
access and working relations with government agencies, most 
notably the Police, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and the 
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS). 
This includes access at senior levels, up to and including 
ministers.  As noted above, the MCYS Minister encouraged one 
organization to submit a proposal to establish a shelter and 
agreed that the government would provide the facility.  At 
the working level, one NGO leader indicated that the police 
were open and responsive to feedback on trafficking cases and 
that officers in the Criminal Investigation Department and 
its Anti-Vice Branch were readily accessible via mobile 
phone.  Several NGO leaders commented favorably on the 
willingness of the police to investigate allegations of 
physical abuse of foreign domestic workers and noted that the 
police treat the workers with an increased level of 
sensitivity and sympathy. 
 
NGOs that work with sex-trafficking victims say that the 
police have also consulted with them on several issues, 
including ways to improve police interviewing techniques and 
interaction with women who may have been victimized, and have 
used NGOs information on how pimps and prostitutes operate to 
successfully crack down on the vice trade.  The police have 
also given the NGOs advice on Singapore laws and tips on the 
types of information and evidence that are most helpful in 
police investigations so that the NGO workers can ask the 
right questions when they encounter potential victims.  NGOs 
working with domestic workers say that MOM consults them on 
policy changes and takes suggestions seriously, and has 
implemented those it found to be workable.  The government 
also has excellent relations with the embassies of the 
various source countries.  Multiple foreign embassy officials 
said that the Singapore authorities actively investigate 
allegations they bring to the government's attention, whether 
of sex-trafficking, maid abuse or work permit violations. 
 
-- F. Does the government monitor immigration and emigration 
patterns for evidence of trafficking?  Do law enforcement 
agencies screen for potential trafficking victims along 
borders? 
 
Singapore closely monitors its borders for any suspicious 
behavior or evidence of criminal activities.  Singapore has 
one of the world's toughest immigration regimes, and the 
Government further stepped up controls after September 11, 
2001.  These measures act as substantial barriers to illegal 
immigration and to trafficking in persons as a subset of this 
problem.  Singapore maintains a record of all travelers who 
enter and exit Singapore, including information on persons 
they were traveling with and the vehicles they were in.  It 
checks all travelers' information against government-wide 
lists of prohibited travelers, suspicious persons, and 
immigration offenders before clearing them.  NGOs and 
source-country consular officials say the Singapore 
government is attentive to all indications of trafficking and 
thoroughly investigates when there is evidence of such 
crimes. 
 
In November 2006, the MOM launched a program of randomly 
interviewing foreign domestic workers working in Singapore 
for the first time.  The interviews enable MOM to determine 
how well they have adjusted to their working conditions and 
to reinforce workers, knowledge of their rights, 
responsibilities, and work place safety. 
 
-- G. Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication 
between various agencies, internal, international, and 
multilateral on trafficking-related matters, such as a 
multi-agency working group or a task force?  Does the 
government have a trafficking in persons working group or 
single point of contact?  Does the government have a public 
corruption task force? 
 
There is not a formal anti-trafficking task force; however, 
Singapore is an efficiently run country and interagency 
coordination within its small government is generally 
 
SINGAPORE 00000401  006 OF 006 
 
 
excellent.  In addition, government agencies cooperate well 
with foreign diplomatic representatives and NGOs in dealing 
with the rare cases of trafficking and in implementing 
measures that prevent trafficking from occurring.  There is 
an independent anti-corruption agency with broad powers, 
which aggressively pursues cases of possible corruption 
against government officials and private citizens. 
 
-- H. Does the government have a national plan of action to 
address trafficking in persons?  If so, which agencies were 
involved in developing it?  Were NGOs consulted in the 
process?  What steps has the government taken to disseminate 
the action plan? 
 
The government does not have a specific national plan of 
action to address trafficking in persons per se, given the 
small number of cases and diverse nature of the crimes here. 
Instead, it gives full authority to various agencies to 
implement available laws and regulatory tools to combat the 
various crimes that comprise "trafficking in persons."  The 
government consults with the public on draft legislation and 
proposed regulatory changes.  For example, in November 2006, 
the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made available for public 
comment for one month an extensive series of proposed 
amendments to the Penal Code.  The Penal Code is Singapore's 
primary criminal legislation and underwent its last major 
review in 1984.  The proposed amendments include 
criminalizing prostitution involving a minor under 18 years 
of age.  In addition, the amendments would extend 
extra-territorial jurisdiction over Singaporean citizens and 
permanent residents who purchase or solicit sexual services 
from minors overseas.  The penalty would be imprisonment for 
a term up to seven years and/or a fine.  To further help 
combat child sex tourism, the proposed amendments also make 
organizing or promoting child sex tours a criminal offense. 
The penalty would be imprisonment for a term up to 10 years 
and/or a fine.  After the Ministry reviews public feedback on 
the proposed changes to the Penal Code, MHA expects to table 
the amendments in Parliament in the first half of 2007. 
HERBOLD