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How scheme came about, and how it was misused
The Straits Times
|December 04, 2025
The Work Permit (Performing Artiste) scheme has been around for the last 17 years.
Here is a timeline and what to know about it, and how it has been misused.
2008: The scheme was introduced to allow licensed public entertainment outlets such as bars, hotels and nightclubs to hire foreign performing artistes of any nationality on a short-term basis of up to six months.
Issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the permit was non-renewable.
March 2023: In response to a parliamentary question from then MP Louis Ng, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said that MOM had put in place education and enforcement measures to safeguard the employment standards of all work permit holders, including performing artistes on work permits.
Mr Ng also asked if MOM would consider requiring the holder of a work permit for performing artistes to attend a settling-in programme, similar to those currently conducted for migrant domestic workers and work permit holders from certain sectors.
Dr Tan replied that MOM had no plans currently to extend it.
This story is from the December 04, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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