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Firms may not engage foreign freelancers to provide creative services here
The Straits Times
|September 14, 2025
Companies in industries such as those involving photography, videography and make-up services are not allowed to engage foreign freelancers for clients in Singapore.
In a joint advisory to industry stakeholders on Sept 11, the Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association (Singapore), or Vicpa, and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said: "Foreigners on tourist or student visas are not allowed to perform such work in Singapore, and companies cannot engage them to provide services to clients, nor promote their services."
This follows information received by MOM that some companies have engaged foreign freelancers to provide creative services for weddings here, the statement added.
Such work arrangements are illegal and constitute a contravention of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).
This story is from the September 14, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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