Country profile SGP
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2006 ; 2006 | C138 & C182 | Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) - Section 11 ; Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006 - Section 65(5) | [{"link_name":"-Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA)","source_link":"https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Singapore-Children-and-Young-Persons-Act.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/WSHA2006-RG1"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Singapore has not published a formal consolidated list of hazardous work specifically prohibited for persons under 18. However, the prohibition is addressed through a combination of laws and regulations. Section 11 of the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) prohibits the employment of persons under 16 in work that is hazardous to their morals or dangerous to life or prejudicial to health. Additionally, the Employment of Children and Young Persons Regulations under the Employment Act prohibit specific hazardous work for children under 16. The Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations 2006 prohibit those under 18 from operating certain machinery and performing high-risk tasks. The competent authority, the Ministry of Manpower, has regulatory powers under section 65(5) of the WSHA to further issue regulations on hazardous work, including prohibitions and restrictions specific to young workers. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1993 ; 1973 ; 2006 | C138 & C182 | Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) - Section 11 ; Employment of Children and Young Persons Regulations (ECYPR) - Sections 6, 13, 14, and 15 ; Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA) and General Provisions Regulations - Regulation 21(13) | [{"link_name":"-Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA)","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CYPA1993"},{"link_name":"-Employment of Children and Young Persons Regulations (ECYPR)","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/EmA1968-RG1"},{"link_name":"-Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA) and General Provisions Regulations","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/WSHA2006-RG1"}] | 16 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Section 11 of the CYPA prohibits the employment of persons under 16 years in work hazardous to their morals or dangerous to their life or health. Sections 6, 13, 14, and 15 of the ECYPR also prohibit hazardous work for those under 16. Additionally, the Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations 2006 under the WSHA provide specific protections for workers under 18 years of age. For example, Regulation 21(13) prohibits persons under 18 from operating mechanically powered lifting machines or giving signals to operators. Section 65(5) of the WSHA empowers the Minister to issue further regulations restricting hazardous work for young persons. However, there is no explicit nationwide prohibition of hazardous work for all persons under 18 as required by C138 and C182. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 1993 ; 1973 | C182 | Children and Young Persons Act - Section 6 | [{"link_name":"-Children and Young Persons Act","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CYPA1993"},{"link_name":"-Misuse of Drugs Act","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/MDA1973"}] | No | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 6 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 criminalises causing or procuring any person under 16 to be used for begging, gambling, or any other illegal activities “detrimental to his or her health or welfare.” This provides broad protection against involving younger children in unlawful activity. However, it applies only to those under 16 and does not specifically mention drug production or trafficking by children aged 16–17. Additionally, no other statute—such as the Misuse of Drugs Act—contains a specific clause prohibiting the use or procuring of children, under 18, for drug-related illicit work. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2020 | C182 | Penal Code - Sections 377BG, 377BL | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PC1871?ProvIds=P416-#pr377BL-"}] | No | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Under Section 377BG, the use, procurement, or involvement of any child under 16 years in the production of child abuse material is a criminal offence. For children aged 16 to under 18, Section 377BL criminalises such conduct when the offender is in an exploitative relationship with the child, including producing, distributing, or possessing "abusive material" as defined in the law. Penalties include imprisonment for up to 10 years and fines or caning. However, such provisions fail to protect children aged from 17 to 18 years. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 1970 | C182 | Enlistment Act 1970 | [{"link_name":"Enlistment Act 1970","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/EA1970"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | The Enlistment Act 1970 establishes that only individuals aged 18 and above can be compulsorily enlisted in national service. While voluntary enlistment into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is open from 16½ years under the SAF Volunteer Scheme, there is no mechanism for forced recruitment of minors, and the law prohibits conscription below 18. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2014 | C182 | Prevention of Human Trafficking Act - Section 4 | [{"link_name":"Prevention of Human Trafficking Act","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PHTA2014"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Section 4 of the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act 2014 criminalises the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of any child under 18 (or vulnerable person) for exploitation, including sexual and labour exploitation. The maximum penalties include imprisonment up to 10 years, fines up to S$100,000, and caning up to six strokes. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 1968 | C138 | Employment Act 1968 - Section 72 | [{"link_name":"Employment Act 1968","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/act/ema1968?ProvIds=P18-#P18-"}] | No | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | Section 72 of the Employment Act exempts from the minimum age provisions: (i) children and young persons in apprenticeship programmes approved and supervised by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE); (ii) children engaged in work carried out in any technical, vocational or industrial training school or institute; and (iii) young persons employed under apprenticeship programmes approved and supervised by ITE. Although there is no legislated minimum age, the Government informed the ILO that apprentices would generally be at least 16 years old, as they are expected to have completed compulsory education and vocational preparation. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2011 | C138 | Compulsory Education Act - Section 2 | [{"link_name":"Compulsory Education Act","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CEA2000"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | Under Section 2 of the Compulsory Education Act (Cap. 51), school attendance is compulsory for children of ages 6 to 15, unless exempted by the Minister for Education. Since the Employment Act sets the general minimum age for work at 15 and schooling is compulsory until that same age, Singapore complies with C138 in ensuring alignment between the end of compulsory education and the minimum age for employment. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 1968 | C138 | Employment Act 1968 - Section 68(3) | [{"link_name":"Employment Act 1968","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/act/ema1968?ProvIds=P18-#P18-"}] | Yes | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | Section 68(3) of the Employment Act (Cap. 91) allows children aged 13 and above to be employed only in light duties suited to their capacity, and only in non-industrial undertakings. Such employment must be supported by a medical certificate. The law gives the Minister authority to make rules regulating the types of work and the hours during which children may work. These provisions aim to ensure that the work does not interfere with the child’s education or pose any risk to their health, safety, or moral development. |
| Minimum age for light work | 1968 | C138 | Employment Act 1968 - Section 68(3) ; Employment (Children and Young Persons) Regulations - Section 3 | [{"link_name":"-Employment Act 1968","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/act/ema1968?ProvIds=P18-#P18-"},{"link_name":"-Employment (Children and Young Persons) Regulations","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/EmA1968-RG1?DocDate=20000430&WholeDoc=1"}] | 13 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | Section 68(3) of the Employment Act 1968 allows children aged 13 and above to be employed in light work suited to their capacity in non-industrial undertakings, subject to medical certification. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1968 ; 1976 | C138 | Employment Act 1968 - Sections 67A and 68 ; Employment of Children and Young Persons Regulations | [{"link_name":"-Employment Act 1068","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/act/ema1968"},{"link_name":"-Employment of Children and Young Persons Regulations","source_link":"https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/EmA1968-RG1"}] | 15 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Under the Employment Act 1968 and the Employment of Children and Young Persons Regulations, Singapore sets 15 years as the minimum age for general employment. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 14-JUN-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 07-NOV-2005 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Taskforce launched the National Approach Against TIP in March 2016. Building on the success of the NPA, the National Approach sets out key strategies and outcomes to guide the Taskforce and its stakeholders as they develop work plans to combat TIP. These are the four desired outcomes of the National Approach Against TIP: Prevention: A public that is aware of TIP crimes and actively takes steps to prevent, combat and suppress TIP. Government officials and stakeholders who are well-trained, competent and professional in identifying and dealing with TIP cases. Prosecution: An effective end-to-end criminal justice response to TIP crimes, involving comprehensive investigations and prosecution of all offenders who may be involved in trafficking or the exploitation of victims. Protection: An appropriate victim care and support framework that looks after the needs of all victims of trafficking. Partnership: A strong ecosystem comprising domestic and international stakeholders to put forth a whole-of-Singapore response against TIP. | [{"link_name":"The National Approach Against Trafficking in Persons","source_link":"https://www.mha.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/national-approach-against-trafficking-in-persons-2016-2026.pdf?sfvrsn=92306288_0"}] | 2021-2026 | The National Approach Against Trafficking in Persons | Inter-Agency Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons |