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\n Businesses can retain existing Work Permit (Performing Artiste) holders until their passes expire or are cancelled.
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The Work Permit (Performing Artiste) scheme\u202fwas introduced in\u202f2008\u202fto allow\u202flicensed public entertainment outlets such as bars,\u202fhotels\u202fand nightclubs\u202fto hire foreign performing artistes of any nationality\u202fon a short-term basis\u202fof up to 6 months.<\/p>\n
However, recent enforcement operations conducted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) uncovered\u202fsyndicates of non-operating public entertainment outlets that hired foreign performing artistes under the scheme and\u202fsubsequently\u202freleased them to work\u202fat\u202fother public entertainment outlets and locations.1<\/sup><\/p>\n In view of the\u202fwidespread\u202fabuse of the scheme, MOM, in consultation with\u202frelevant agencies,\u202fhas\u202fassessed\u202fthat\u202fthe scheme is no longer serving its original purpose.\u202fMOM will\u202fthus\u202fcease\u202fthe scheme.\u202f<\/p>\n From 1 June 2026,\u202fMOM will\u202fstop accepting\u202fnew\u202fapplications\u202fto hire\u202fforeign workers under the scheme.\u202fPublic entertainment outlets may\u202fretain their\u202fexisting\u202fforeign performing artistes under the scheme until their passes expire or are cancelled.<\/p>\n This\u202farrangement was\u202fdecided following\u202fconsultation with the Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA), to provide sufficient lead time for public entertainment outlets that currently hire foreign performing artistes under the scheme to make alternative arrangements.<\/p>\n For example, businesses can engage entertainment services from service providers instead of hiring performers directly or continue to hire eligible foreign performing artistes on a regular work pass.<\/p>\n Businesses can also engage foreigners for short-term performances under the Work Pass Exempt (WPE) framework<\/a> for\u202fevents supported by\u202fthe government or any statutory\u202fboard, or\u202fheld at a public performance venue, except for bars, discotheques, lounges, nightclub, pub, hotel, private club or restaurant venues with a Category 1 Public Entertainment Licence (PEL).<\/p>\n MOM and\u202fMTI\u202fwill continue to partner the\u202fSNBA to\u202freview developments in the nightlife sector.<\/p>\n FOOTNOTE<\/strong><\/p>\n 1<\/sup> You may refer to the press release dated 27 Sep 2024<\/a>, 4 Sep 2025<\/a> and 24 Oct 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n