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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg |
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Changes To Conditions For Massage Establishments |
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From 26 Jun 2006 , massage establishments
will see changes in the regulations under the Massage Establishment Act. |
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Police have noticed that in recent years,
many such establishments have abused the current exemption and are in
fact operating without complying with the exemption conditions. |
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From our checks conducted in Jan to May
2006, 149 were found to have flouted the exemption conditions and hence
were operating without a licence. |
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In addition, there were a total of 26
infringements committed by outlets including offences under the
Employment of Foreign Workers Act. A total of 52 women have also been
arrested for vice activities in massage establishments this year. |
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Establishments Administering
Foot-reflexology, Physiotherapy, Traditional or Curative Massage |
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Presently, establishments that conduct their
massage services in full view of other patrons or employ only certified
massage therapists need not apply for a licence from the Police. |
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Certified massage therapists are those
who are qualified to offer physiotherapy, occupational therapy and
Traditional Chinese Massage by the Singapore Physiotherapy
Association, Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists or
Ministry of Health. |
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From 26 June 2006 , these establishments
must meet a new set of requirements before they can qualify for
exemption. |
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Under the new requirements,
establishments administering foot-reflexology, physiotherapy,
traditional massage or curative massage must ensure that the massage
services are conducted in full view of the public and satisfy the
following new requirements before they are exempted from the
provisions of the Act: |
(a) there is no room, partition, cubicle
or any form of separation device that allows massage services to be
administered in private and outside the view of other customers in
the premises;
(b) any area in the premises where massage services are carried out
is clearly visible from outside the premises and any window in the
premises or entrance to the premises is not obscured with any device
or accessory such as tinted glass panel, curtain, blinds or any
poster or notice;
(c) only citizens and permanent residents of Singapore and
Malaysians with valid work permits are employed in the establishment
for massage;
(d) no employee of the establishment for massage is indecently
dressed when discharging his duties thereat;
(e) the employees of the establishment for massage do not tout for
business or loiter outside the premises of the establishment; and
(f) the operator of the establishment for massage registers details
of the operations of the establishment with the Licensing Officer
and complies with the requirements set out in the Schedule |
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Establishments for massage which qualify
for the above exemption are to register details of its operations
with the Police at
https://licences.business.gov.sg. |
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The mandatory registration will provide
Police with information for its enforcement checks on establishments
to ensure that the exemption conditions are fully complied with and
to prevent any proliferation of vice-activities in the premises. |
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Those who are currently already
operating in the industry are required to register their details by
26 Aug 2006 . |
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Establishments Offering Body Tanning
Services |
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Currently all massage establishments
offering body-tanning services require a licence to operate. From 26
June 2006 , premises which are used exclusively for body tanning are
exempted if they satisfy the following new requirements :- |
(a) the body tanning service
administered in the premises is conducted solely by means of a
self-operated machine;
(b) there is no additional room, partition or cubicle within the
premises other than any room, partition, or cubicle that is
essential for the operation of the body tanning service such as a
treatment room or a changing room; and
(c) the operator of the establishment for massage registers details
of the operations of the establishment with the Licensing Officer
and complies with the requirements set out in the Schedule. |
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Establishments for massage which qualify
for the above exemption are to register details of its operations at
https://licences.business.gov.sg. |
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Those who are currently already
operating in the industry are required to register their details by
26 Aug 2006. |
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Medical Health Screening |
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To safeguard public health and safety,
masseuses, therapists and reflexologists who are working or will be
working in licensed massage establishments may be required to
undergo and pass a medical health screening before they can be
allowed to work for any licensed establishment for massage. |
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These employees will also be subjected
to a yearly renewal process i.e. they will need to pass the medical
screening every year before they can continue to work in the massage
establishment. |
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This medical health screening
requirement was one of the recommendations proposed by the Advisory
Panel for Licensing (APL) on the spa and massage industry of which
Police has accepted. Details on the screening can be found at
https://licences.business.gov.sg. |
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Police Director of Operations, Senior
Assistant Commissioner Aubeck Kam said that "Police will continue to
conduct enforcement checks on establishments for massage to ensure
compliance with the law, and to prevent such establishments from
engaging in vice activities. We will not hesitate to prosecute
errant operators to the fullest extent of the law." |
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
24 June 2006 @ 10.30 am |
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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg Media Release
24 Jun 2006 |
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Related Article: |
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-
Police arrest 77 foreigners illegally working as masseuses |
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FrontPage Edition: Tue 27 June 2006
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