Singapore’s sex trade: prostitution, licensed brothels, ‘sugar babies’ and laws you can run rings around

In Singapore, licensed prostitutes offer sex from brothels in official red-light areas; others ply the streets or work with escort agencies or vice rings – all in breach of laws

Women come from nearby countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and China, often on tourists visas. It’s a set-up ripe for exploitation, some say

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Street prostitution in Geylang, Singapore. Photo: Alamy

Published: 7:15am, 20 Nov 2017Updated: 12:00pm, 27 Apr 2020

Most nights, Lisa Jaafar heads to the Singapore red-light district of Geylang, and stands in the streets waiting for men to buy her services – S$50 (US$37) for 30 minutes of her time. Five years ago, when business was brisk, she could earn more than S$200 in about five hours, then head home to her two children.

Working a five-day week, she would make about S$4,000 a month, tax-free. But now, she says, there are fewer clients on the streets. It’s probably not a reflection of the city state’s economic performance, however. The signs are that the sex industry in clean, green Singapore – where prostitution is legal – is as vibrant as ever. That’s despite the fact most activities associated with the world’s oldest profession are outlawed.

“Owning a brothel, pimping, online advertising of sex work, recruiting a woman, all are illegal,” says Vanessa Ho, director of sex worker advocacy group Project X. Soliciting prostitution in public places is also illegal in the Lion City.

That doesn’t stop such activities from taking place. Freelancers like Jaafar solicit on the streets, advertise their services online, and work under the cover of escort agencies. Then there’s Orchard Towers, in the middle of Singapore’s busy shopping district, housing bars and clubs frequented largely by Western visitors and sex workers. The entertainment complex is cheekily known as the “Four Floors of Whores”.

The Orchard Towers entertainment complex is known as the “Four Floors of Whores”.

On the sex-themed website Sammy Boy Forum, one escort agency advertises the services of Singaporean women. Alicia, a Singaporean Chinese purported to be 20, for example, is a “sweet and lovely student”. She weighs 45kg, is 1.62 metres tall, has a fair complexion, and costs S$650 a night – room not included. Alicia will do a house call for an additional S$50, but if a client finds her lacking on sight, he can reject her within five minutes, and pay a fee of S$50.

Assuming she works five days a week – and is booked up each night – Alicia is raking in about S$13,000 a month.