SINGAPORE: All massage shops, including open-concept establishments, must be licensed from Dec 1 and prominently display a police-issued poster containing details of their licences on their shopfronts.
In a statement on Nov 5, the police said open-concept massage establishments would no longer be exempt from requiring a massage establishment licence from Dec 1. Operators must obtain a new Category 3 licence.
The tenure of all three licence categories for massage shops will also be extended to three or five years, compared with the current one to three years under the existing two categories.
In February, the police said they would step up enforcement against massage parlours and salons involved in vice activities and were reviewing the Massage Establishment Act.
Massage shop operators are required to obtain a licence from the police under the Act, although open-concept establishments, as well as beauty and hair salons that do not provide massage services, are currently exempt.
The police said in April that all massage establishments would have to be licensed from the second half of 2026.
From Dec 1, those seeking to operate an open-concept massage shop must undergo a "fit and proper" assessment before they can be granted a Category 3 licence.
Massage establishments are currently licensed under Category 1 or Category 2. Category 1 shops are larger, can employ foreign workers of any nationality with valid work passes and must be CaseTrust-accredited.
Applicants must also submit relevant land-use planning approval from the Housing and Development Board (HDB) or the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for the premises to be used as a massage establishment.
Approval from either agency will also be required for existing establishments in the other two categories when renewing their licences.
Existing open-concept massage shop operators will be given a one-year grace period, until Nov 30, 2027, to comply with the new regulations. Those who fail to do so will have to cease operations, the police said.
Operators who obtain a Category 3 licence before June 1, 2027, will receive a 50 per cent discount on the $340 fee for a three-year licence or the $510 fee for a five-year licence.
Open-concept massage shops must meet requirements, including allowing customers and members of the public to have an unobstructed view of the massage services being provided at all times. They must also not have structures that allow massage services to be conducted in private.
Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said in a Facebook post on Nov 5 that HDB had taken action in 26 cases involving vice activities at both sold and rented shops since January.
"HDB shop owners have a responsibility to ensure they do not turn a blind eye to vice activities on their premises, or they will face serious consequences," he added.
"Our heartlands are home to families and communities, and we will ensure they remain a safe environment for all. We will continue to work closely with SPF to weed out such undesirable activities from our neighbourhoods."
Mandatory posters, uniform standards and extended licence tenure
The police said on Nov 5 that all massage shop operators must prominently display a police-issued poster on their shopfronts. The poster will contain details and key conditions of their licences, as well as a website link for members of the public to report breaches to the police.
Existing Category 1 and Category 2 massage shops will have until Jan 31, 2027, to comply with the new requirement.
"Failure to display the poster will be an offence," the police said.
However, Category 1 and Category 2 licensees will no longer need police approval for their employees' uniforms, provided these comply with the prescribed standards.
The standards require employees to wear a shirt or blouse with sleeves bearing the establishment's name or logo and the employee's name, together with trousers or skirts that are knee-length or longer.
All licensees, including those under the new Category 3, must ensure their employees are not indecently dressed on the premises, the police said.
The police also announced longer licence tenures of three or five years as part of the Government's efforts to review regulations and reduce the administrative burden on businesses.
New Category 1 and Category 2 licensees will initially receive a one-year provisional licence before being granted a three- or five-year licence, depending on their compliance history.
This replaces and simplifies the existing progressive licensing tenure model.
New Category 3 licensees will receive three- or five-year licences from the outset, subject to the police's assessment and the applicant's compliance record.
Those wishing to apply for the new Category 3 licence can do so through the GoBusiness portal from Nov 5.
The application process could take about four weeks, including a possible site inspection, where applicable, the police said.
Anyone convicted of operating a massage establishment without a valid licence may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to two years, or both.
Repeat offenders may face a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. - Striats Times/ANN
