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87 people hauled up after checks on 101 massage establishments islandwide

aseanpr
2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Eighty-seven people have been hauled up following islandwide enforcement checks on 101 massage establishments between Sept 13 and Oct 23. A total of 31 establishments were found allegedly providing massage services without a valid licence and failing to ensure that employees do not provide sexual services. The police have arrested 46 women. Ten establishments were found to have allegedly breached Covid-19 safe distancing measures by failing to ensure that all persons wear a mask within the licensed premises, and that interactions among staff and customers are minimised. These establishments may be ordered to close for 10 days and fined $1,000 for such breaches. Customers caught not wearing a mask may be fined $300. The police said on Saturday (Nov 6) that they will continue with enforcement checks and advise the public and businesses to take safe management measures seriously. For non-compliance with safe distancing measures under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, those found guilty may be jailed up to six months, fined up to $10,000, or both. Those found guilty of providing massage services in an establishment for massage without a val...

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New food safety licensing regime for food outlets to start from 2023: SFA

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A new licensing regime for food establishments will be introduced from 2023 to provide better assurance of food safety to consumers, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Monday (Oct 25). Other than their track record, such as not having major food safety lapses over a period of time, the multi-year framework will take into account whether eateries appoint food hygiene officers, among other things. An estimated 23,000 food establishments will come under the Safety Assurance for Food Establishments (Safe) framework from Jan 1, 2023, across retail and non-retail food establishments, said SFA in its statement. Food establishments include caterers, restaurants, bakeries and food manufacturers. They are currently graded either A, B, C or D, based on an annual assessment of their premises' food safety performance. With the new framework, the old grading system will be replaced with bronze, silver and gold awards. These awards will correspond to a three, five, or 10-year licence duration. The higher the award tier, the longer the duration. SFA's deputy chief executive Tan Lee Kim said the new framework takes into account ongoing performance, compared with an annual grading a...

SeaPRwire

6 people under investigation after police raid massage outlets in Ang Mo Kio, Upper Serangoon

aseanpr
2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Six individuals, including outlet operators, are under investigation following police raids on 10 massage establishments. Six outlets were found to have committed various offences under the Massage Establishments Act, while four outlets were allegedly operating without valid licences, said the police in a statement on Tuesday (Sept 7). Vice-related activities were purportedly detected at two other outlets. The raids, conducted by Ang Mo Kio Police Division, took place between Aug 26 and Sept 2. The massage establishments were located in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and Avenue 4, as well as Jalan Selaseh, Simon Road, and Upper Serangoon Road. Those found guilty of running a business providing massage services in an establishment for massage without a valid licence can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to two years, or both. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to five years, or both. People found to have breached the prescribed rules and conditions under the Massage Establishments Act can also be fined up to $5,000, with repeat offenders fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to two years, or both. The police said in the statement that they have been "conduc...

SeaPRwire

About 50 KTVs and other nightspots not allowed to reopen; others must first clear inspections

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Around 50 nightlife establishments that flouted Covid-19 rules since October last year will not be allowed to reopen. Others that previously pivoted to food and beverage (F&B) operations must remain closed until they have passed inspections and received a conditional permit, the authorities said. Such outlets were ordered to close for two weeks from July 16, to break the community transmission of the virus from clusters at KTV lounges and nightclubs. If these pivoted nightlife establishments are permitted to reopen, they have to adhere to additional safe management measures, on top of existing ones for the F&B sector, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment in a joint statement on Saturday (July 31) with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The additional measures include locking all private rooms and installing closed-circuit television cameras to cover all areas of operation, including the entrances of the locked private rooms. Equipment that facilitate public entertainment, such as pool tables and karaoke machines, must be moved out of their patrons' sight. All employees at these outlets are also required to undergo Cov...

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13 under probe for Covid-19 breaches in Ubi Road entertainment outlet suspected to be operating illegally

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Thirteen people are being investigated for allegedly committing breaches of safety measures in a public entertainment outlet suspected to be operating illegally, the police said on Thursday (July 29). They had conducted enforcement operations on 77 massage establishments and 59 public entertainment outlets across Singapore between July 20 and July 24. The 13 were found on commercial premises in Ubi Road 1 last Saturday during one of the operations. The unit was believed to have been operating as a public entertainment outlet, the police said in a statement. A 25-year-old man is also being investigated for allegedly providing public entertainment and supplying liquor without a licence at the outlet. He is suspected to be involved in managing the alleged illegal public entertainment outlet. Eight massage establishments also allegedly committed various licensing breaches under the Massage Establishments Act and are being investigated. Those found carrying on a business of providing massage services in an establishment for massage without a valid licence under the Massage Establishments Act can be fined $10,000, jailed for up to two years, or both. Those found to have breac...

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25 S’pore massage establishments and 23 people caught flouting Covid-19 mask-on rules

aseanpr
2 minutes

SINGAPORE - The police will take action against 25 massage establishments for not ensuring that staff and customers wear masks at all times. And 23 individuals will also be taken to task for not wearing a mask during their massage. This comes as checks at such establishments are stepped up to ensure that safe management measures are followed, the police said in a statement on Wednesday (May 26). Checks have been carried out at around 850 such establishments in the past two weeks. "Over the past few weeks, several clusters of infection have emerged alongside many unlinked community cases," it said. "These developments have demonstrated the need for continued vigilance in the practice of safe management measures by permitted enterprises like massage establishments, which are allowed to operate during the current Covid-19 pandemic." Depending on the severity of breaches found, massage establishments may be fined between $1,000 and $2,000, while individuals may be fined up to $1,000. Massage establishment operators may also be liable for prosecution under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, and first-time offenders can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both. Su...

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Pivoted nightlife establishments face stricter measures after SMM breaches

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Former nightlife operators can now lose their food licences if they commit serious breaches of safe management measures (SMM) under new regulations announced on Friday morning (May 14). Those whose licences have been revoked will need to cease operations immediately until the nightlife sector is allowed to reopen in the future or until their re-application for a a new food licence is approved, said a statement by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE). This comes after 10 food & beverage (F&B) premises, including six former nightlife operators, had been ordered to close. The breaches include failing to prevent large groups of patrons from intermingling; employing hostesses; and allowing live entertainment such as the playing of musical instruments and games like dice and billiards. As a result, nightlife operators who intend to convert their establishment to a F&B outlet in future must file a Change of Use application with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to obtain planning permission. This includes submitting a proposed business concept, layout plan and removal of any bar-related signage. The Singapore Food Agency will process the licence appli...