Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Visual, Audio, & Creative Professionals Association have issued a notification letter, reminding businesses not to hire foreign freelancers to serve local clients.
According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao on the 12th, MOM and the National Trades Union Congress-affiliated Visual, Audio, and Creative Professionals Association (VICPA) sent a notification to industry players, revealing that MOM has learned some companies have been hiring foreign freelancers to provide wedding photography, videography, and makeup services locally.
Singapore does not permit foreigners holding tourist or student visas to perform these jobs locally. Companies are also prohibited from hiring them to serve clients or promoting their services. Such arrangements are illegal and in violation of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
MOM indicated it will investigate foreigners working locally without valid work passes, as well as those who assist them. Authorities will take action against violators. Foreigners working locally without a valid work pass face fines of up to $20,000 (about 65,626 ringgit), imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Those who hire such foreigners may also face the same penalties.
Additionally, foreigners who violate the law may also be barred from working in Singapore in the future.
MOM urges industry players, if they learn of such illegal activities or suspect anyone may be violating the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, to report it to MOM.