Singapore to Scrap Performing Artiste Work Permit After Years of Widespread Abuse by Syndicates

SINGAPORE, Dec 1: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced that Singapore’s Work Permit (Performing Artiste) scheme will be terminated from June 1, 2026, following mounting evidence of extensive misuse by employment syndicates and non-operational entertainment outlets.

The scheme, introduced in 2008, was designed to allow licensed bars, hotels, and nightclubs to hire foreign performing artists of any nationality for short-term periods of up to six months. It replaced the former Professional Visit Pass and operated alongside the Miscellaneous Work Pass for short-term assignments such as seminars, religious activities, or journalism.

Over the years, however, multiple enforcement operations by MOM and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) have revealed large-scale exploitation of the program.

In March 2023, concerns were raised in Parliament about the welfare and oversight of performing artists on work permits. MOM stated that general enforcement safeguards were in place but said the settling-in program, mandatory for workers in several labor-intensive sectors, would not be extended to performing artistes.

Then Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam also confirmed that the police did not track criminal offenses by performing artists specifically.

A turning point came in September 2024, when 32 individuals were arrested in a major islandwide raid. A key suspect, a 33-year-old man, was believed to be part of a syndicate operating 28 shell entertainment outlets that falsely employed performing artists despite the outlets being inactive. Sixteen men and fifteen women were also arrested for allegedly submitting false declarations in work pass applications.

The trend continued into 2025. In September, 17 people were arrested for suspected illegal employment and falsifying work pass declarations. Among them were Singaporean business owners and an employment agency officer accused of hiring foreign performing artists for non-operational outlets before releasing them to work as freelance hostesses elsewhere.

In October, another joint operation by MOM, SPF, and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) led to the arrest of 58 individuals. Thirty-two foreigners hired under the Performing Artiste scheme were found working illegally without valid passes. Additional arrests were made for employment offenses and possession of e-vaporizers.

Following a pattern of widespread abuse, MOM concluded that the scheme was no longer achieving its intended objective of supporting genuine entertainment outlets. In consultation with other agencies, the ministry announced its decision to end the scheme completely.

June 1, 2026: MOM will stop accepting all new applications under the Performing Artiste Work Permit scheme. Businesses will no longer be allowed to hire new foreign performing artists on this permit, though existing holders may remain until their permits expire. Companies may instead hire performers through service providers or apply for regular work passes for eligible artists.

MOM emphasized that the decision reflects a need to close loopholes exploited by illegal employment syndicates and to safeguard the integrity of Singapore’s work pass framework.

Investigations into the previously arrested individuals are ongoing.