Arising from public feedback of illegal massage establishments masquerading as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics and operating as unlicensed massage establishments and/or offering vice services, the Police conducted enforcement operations against 181 TCM outlets between 7 February and 14 April 2025.
While most outlets checked were found to be in compliance with the law, a total of 11 outlets were found with non-certified TCM practitioners administering massages to customers. Police investigations are ongoing against the operators of the 11 outlets for breaching the Exemption Order 2018 under the Massage Establishments Act. One of the outlets was also found with a female employee committing vice offences. The female employee was arrested for an offence managing a place of assignation under the Women’s Charter 1961.
Persons who are convicted of an offence of providing massage services in an establishment for massage without a valid licence under Section 5(1) of the Massage Establishments Act 2017 are liable to a fine of up to $10,000, an imprisonment term of up to two years, or both. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine of up to $20,000, or an imprisonment term of up to five years, or both.
The Police will continue to conduct regular enforcement checks to detect and deter illicit activities at TCM outlets. Those found engaging in such activities will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.
For more information on ME licensing requirements, please visit the Singapore Police Force website at https://www.police.gov.sg/e-Services/Police-Licences/Massage-Establishment-Licence.
To complement the enforcement efforts, the Police have engaged the TCM Practitioners Board to remind the registered TCM practitioners of the need to comply with the Massage Establishments (Exemption) Order 2018.
[Photos of Police Checks on TCM Outlets]
TCM Outlets detected with non-compliance (non-vice) ▼
TCM registered outlet (with vice detected). ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
28 June 2025 @ 2:10 PM