Combating Trafficking in Persons

In 2015, Singapore acceded to the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (UN TIP Protocol).

The UN TIP Protocol lays out international standards for the elimination of TIP, and seeks to prevent, suppress and punish TIP perpetrators while protecting victims and promoting cooperation among state parties to meet these objectives.

Singapore is fully in compliance with the Protocol.

In 2015, Singapore also passedthe Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (PHTA) to deter TIP and support the rehabilitation of trafficked victims, especially vulnerable individuals.

The PHTA explicitly criminalises TIP, definesthe offences, and sets out actions which constitute abetment of the TIP offence. It also makes it an offence for a person to knowingly receive payment in connection with the exploitation of a trafficked victim, with severe penalties for doing so.

The PHTA is part of Singapore's wide suite of legislation to prosecute TIP and related offences.

Depending on the facts and circumstances of each case, offenders who engage in activities related to trafficking can also be taken to task under the Women’s Charter, Penal Code, Employment of Foreign Manpower Act andother relevant legislation.