National Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) if he would provide an update on the steps taken under the National Plan of Action against sex and labour trafficking; (b) what are the long and short-term goals of the Plan; and (c) whether the Singapore Inter-Agency Taskforce on trafficking of persons would consider providing enforcement powers for the apprehension of sex and labour trafficking syndicates operating in or through Singapore.

The Second Minister for Home Affairs (Mr S Iswaran) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, trafficking in persons (TIP) is a significant transnational crime. As people increasingly move across borders in search of economic opportunities, this in turn creates avenues for traffickers to exploit individuals. Singapore is a hub for economic activities, with high people flows. Hence, we are no less vulnerable than other countries to human trafficking syndicates.

Recognising that human trafficking is a threat to Singapore's security as well as our economic and social fabric, Singapore formed the Inter-Agency Taskforce on trafficking in persons in 2010. The Taskforce aims to develop a holistic perspective on the TIP situation, and identify and implement Whole-of-Government strategies to combat the crime more effectively, both locally and internationally.

The Taskforce is in the process of developing the National Plan of Action, which the Member has referred to, and it is expected to be ready by mid-2012. The Taskforce will consult stakeholders before finalising the plan. The plan will detail strategies to reduce the incidence of human trafficking in Singapore, minimise opportunities available for traffickers to exploit others, and heighten our response to trafficking cases. This strategy will have four key thrusts: Prevention of the crime; prosecution of offenders; protection of TIP victims; and partnership with other countries, embassies, NGOs and, indeed, the private sector.

On prevention, Singapore takes a comprehensive approach of strict border enforcement, thorough immigration checks, proactive enforcement and public education. Police and the Ministry of Manpower conduct frequent operations to identify victims and take any traffickers to task. Successfully prosecuted cases are also publicised in order to deter perpetrators.

Ensuring workers in Singapore are aware of their rights and the obligations of their employers is one of the most important means of preventing labour exploitation. This is done through the issuance of in-principle approval letters prior to their arrival in Singapore, and orientation and various outreach education programmes while they are in Singapore. Together, Police and MOM will continue their proactive enforcement and education activities.

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On prosecution, human traffickers are firmly dealt with under Singapore laws. Police and MOM will continue to work with the Attorney-General's Chambers to press for deterrent sentences. The taskforce is examining whether new legislation is required to enhance our ability to fight human trafficking. This is the point that the Member has referred to. The taskforce will consider whether increased enforcement powers, enhanced victim care provisions and harsher sentences are needed.

On protection of victims, MCYS and MOM fund shelters and dormitories that offer protection, including accommodation, medical care, counselling and translation services. The taskforce is looking at ways to improve the victim care and support programmes.

Sir, finally, on partnerships. As the human traffickers work across state boundaries and legal jurisdictions, enforcement also requires cross-border cooperation for countries to work closely together, and the taskforce will continue to work with counter-parties in other countries, foreign embassies and partners, such as Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), to ensure victims are identified and human traffickers are pursued even across borders and legal jurisdictions. Beyond operational issues, the taskforce will work with our partners to explore upstream measures to prevent exploitation, even in source countries.

Mr Speaker, Sir, to sum up, Singapore recognises that TIP is a significant transnational crime which cannot be eradicated easily. But we remain fully committed to taking the necessary steps, both in the short term and the long term, to fight this exploitative crime and bring the perpetrators to task.

Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. I have two supplementary questions: one local and one regional.

On the local one, would the Minister consider, before the taskforce convenes in mid-2012, an inter-agency approach between the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Anti-vice Branch which comes under the Police, so that we can look at this holistically?

The second point, on regional, the Minister mentioned the transnational nature of the crime. Would the taskforce think of leveraging on the Interpol Headquarters, which is going to be set up soon in Singapore, to fight this transnational nature of the crime?

The third point, also on regional, the Minister talked about regional NGOs and governments. Would he consider adding regional anti-vice branches to that list of entities that we cooperate with to deter this heinous crime?

Mr S Iswaran: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for his questions and the opportunity to clarify. Firstly, on inter-agency cooperation: indeed, that is the way the work has been done. To repeat the point: It is not that the taskforce will convene in mid-2012. The plan of action will be completed by mid-2012. That is the estimate. In terms of inter-agency cooperation, therefore, it is reflected in fact in the way even the taskforce is composed. We have the Ministries of Home Affairs, Manpower, MCYS, as well as the Police, immigration and various other agencies which have a vested interest and a role to play in this whole-of-Government effort. Indeed, that is the way we will continue to proceed. In some of the raids that have been conducted and enforcement actions taken, that has also been the case, and the Home Team agencies typically work together on many of these efforts.

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Secondly, on international collaboration and whether we can leverage on Interpol, indeed, the Interpol facility that is going to be established here will be an important asset for us. But it is not just what we have in Singapore, but indeed, that is an approach that have been taken by the Police and the other agencies involved, that we need to find partners across borders because we often want to interdict at the source rather than wait for it to come to our jurisdiction. And that has been one of the key measures that has underpinned the way they have conducted their enforcement activities.