Proposed human trafficking Bill to cover deceptive recruitment

SINGAPORE — A person may agree to work here as a waiter, only to be forced into becoming a sex worker, with little recourse for justice.

These individuals — and those forced into other kinds of labour — could be protected under the proposed Bill against human trafficking, said Member of Parliament Christopher de Souza yesterday, as he outlined some aspects of the Bill, which he hopes to table in Parliament in November.

Speaking ahead of a public consultation session for the proposed Prevention of Human Trafficking Bill, Mr de Souza noted that such cases of deception across all types of human trafficking offences would be covered under the Bill. Perpetrators will be taken to task accordingly upon investigation.

“(The Bill) is wide enough to cover a situation where, if a lady gives her consent to a situation of wanting to be a waitress ... and is deceived and forced to carry out sexual services ... that would be caught by the Act, because she did not consent to that exploitation,” he said.

Mr de Souza is working with the Singapore Inter-Agency Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons to draft legislation to better protect human trafficking victims. A total of four public and private consultation sessions were held, including the final one yesterday.

A common theme that emerged from views gathered from more than 200 individuals — which included activists, academics and students — was compassion and protection for the innocent. Participants felt that all parties involved in the human trafficking process should be prosecuted, while others suggested that consent supposedly given by victims for labour should be investigated further.

Many agreed that the Bill should be gender neutral and pointed out the need for heavy penalties that are commensurate with the severity of offences. They also asked for a lower threshold of proof in cases involving child victims and proposed that definitions and terms of trafficking be nuanced to suit the local context. Participants also suggested support for victims, such as provision of shelter, counselling, identity protection during trial and immunity from prosecution in deserving cases.

Mr de Souza agreed with the view that there should be enhanced support for victims during the prosecutorial process, adding that he was seriously exploring guidelines to provide rehabilitation for victims during the investigation process.

On why such provisions should be introduced as guidelines rather than laws, Mr de Souza said this would give ground officers the flexibility to assist victims appropriately. He added that investigations could span up to more than a year and urged caution in providing a slew of rights before a victim’s case is proven.

Also floated by participants was whether forceful exploitation could come under the Bill or be better supported by existing legislation such as the Women’s Charter.

He said: “ The motivation of the Bill is to protect and proffer compassion to helpless victims, but it is also about deterring trafficking syndicates and trans-shipment through Singapore. We need to do both.”