NANYANG RESEARCH PROGRAMME The Segmented Sex Industry in Singapore - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

NANYANG RESEARCH PROGRAMME The Segmented Sex Industry in Singapore SSS02 Presenter ： Zhang Yijie Mentor ： Dr Leong Kaiwen

01. Introduction 02. Legal Sector Contents 03. Illegal Sector 04. Model 05. Discussion

o1 o1 Introduction

01 Introduction In Singapore, the sex industry is segmented, where one sector of the industry operates legally and the other illegally. Despite drawbacks of the illegal, there is still a sizeable population of sex workers who choose to work in the illegal sector. Existing literature on prostitution in Singapore has provided little information is available about the relationship between the two sectors. This study contributes to existing literature by increasing understanding of the factors that determine whether a sex worker works in either sector using a model.

o2 o2 Background Legal sector

Background The brothels are contained in four Designated Red Areas (DRAs), namely 02 Geylang, Keong Saik Street, Desker Road and Flanders Square. Legal sector 2 1 How to She must apply to and seek The sex worker must find a get into clearance from the officers in brothel owner who would like to the taskforce in the CID employ her. the 4 3 legal • legally female She will undergo an interview, • between 21 - 35 years of age during which she may be asked sector? • cannot be Malay or Muslim whether she has been coerced must be from China, into the sex industry. Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.

Background If the interview is successful, she will have to sign a contract, 02 which includes the following terms. Legal sector Restrictions on mobility Limited working opportunities • Curfews Limiting the number of • Having to seek permission to leave the brothels commercial establishments like • A ban on visiting clubs or bars pubs and KTVs, • A ban on working outside the brothel Patrols Travel ban Conducting patrols in the area One will face a travel ban ranging by uniformed and plain-clothes between three years to a lifetime policemen ban after the contract expires. Commission Surveillance Brothel owners take 30 to Installing more streetlights and 50 percent of their earnings surveillance cameras.

o3 o3 Background Illegal sector

ILLEGAL SECTOR 03 Background ILLEGAL SECTOR WHAT WHO WHERE Most illegal sex workers • street solicitation Related activities are originate from • criminalised off-street solicitation • China • Commercial • Soliciting in public places • Thailand establishments • • Pimping Vietnam • Unregistered brothel • Malaysia • • Running a brothel Internet solicitation • Philippines

ILLEGAL SECTOR 03 Comparison Illegal legal LACK OF LEGAL RECOURSE HIGHER STI INFECTION RATE Illegal sex workers face a • 20.7% among a random lack of legal recourse should sample of arrested illegal exploitation by clients or EXPLOITATION sex workers agents arise as they cannot Illegal sex workers may be • <5% among registered sex go to the police due to their under agents who may be workers. illegal status. exploitative.

Illegal sector 03 Why they may choose not to work in the legal sector Advantages First, they desire a higher income as registered sex workers have to pay the brothel owners Higher income commission. Second, they desire greater flexibility, as registered Greater flexibility sex workers are often restricted in movement. Third, they may not meet the criterion to become Ineligibility a registered sex worker, e.g. too young or male. Fourth, should they be caught, the travel ban they Shorter travel ban face is of a duration of three-years, which is shorter than if their contracts expire at the licensed brothels.

Illegal sector 03 Factors Cost of punishment Probability of conviction

o4 o4 Model

Model 04 About the model A function of social loss which incorporates the various costs associated with illegal sex activity. Examines the role of the probability of conviction and the cost of punishment in determining the number of offenses committed in the illegal sex sector. The optimal level of illegal sex activity is the level at which social loss is minimised. Understand the factors affecting the level of illegal sex activity and relate this to the reasons why a migrant sex worker would choose to work in the illegal sector over the legal sector.

Model 04 Factors COST OF APPREHENSION AND SUPPLY OF OFFENSES CONVICTION 𝑃 = 𝑃( 𝑞, 𝑔, 𝑣 ) 𝐷 = 𝐷 (𝑞, 𝑃) where O is the number of offenses, where C is the cost of p , the probability of conviction, f , the apprehension and conviction, p is cost of punishment and u the other the probability of conviction and O determinants of criminal activity is the number of offenses. DAMAGES PUNISHMENT 𝐸 𝑃 = 𝐼 𝑃 − 𝐻(𝑃) 𝑔’ = 𝑐𝑔 where D is the net damage to fj is the cost of punishment to the society, H is the harm to society and illegal migrant sex worker. G is the gain to the sex workers.

Model 04 Optimality conditions Dividing by Of and Op and substituting 𝐹𝑔 = − 𝑔 𝑞 𝑴 = 𝑴(𝑬, 𝑫, 𝑷, 𝒄𝒈) 𝑃 𝑃𝑔 and 𝐹𝑞 = − 𝑃 𝑃𝑞 , two equations are found, 𝑬 ′ + 𝑫 ′ = −𝒄𝒒𝒈 𝟐 − 𝟐 Assuming social loss is equal to the loss in (𝟐) 𝑭 𝒈 real income from illegal sex work by migrant sex 𝑬 ′ + 𝑫 ′ + 𝑫 𝟐 = −𝒄𝒒𝒈 𝟐 − 𝟐 workers at O number of offenses, (𝟑) 𝒑 𝝇 𝑭 𝒒 𝑴 = 𝑬(𝑷) + 𝑫(𝒒, 𝑷) + 𝒒𝒄𝒈𝑷 ▼ ▼ Marginal Cost Marginal Revenue Finding the two first-order optimality conditions, 𝛜𝑴 𝛜𝒈 = 𝑬’ 𝑷𝒈 + 𝑫’ + 𝒄𝒒𝒈𝑷𝒈 + 𝒄𝒒𝑷 = 𝟏 Thus equations 1 and 2 represent the 𝛜𝑴 optimality condition where MR = MC. 𝛜𝒒 = 𝑬’ 𝑷𝒒 + 𝑫’𝑷𝒒 + 𝑫𝒒 + 𝒄𝒒𝒈𝑷𝒒 + 𝒄𝒈𝑷 = 𝟏

Model 04 Graph The social loss is minimised where MC = MR with respect to either f or p . This has implications for public policy in terms of finding the appropriate f and p to achieve the optimal level of offenses at MC = MR.

o5 o5 Discussion

Discussion 05 Effectiveness of the model We thus can determine two factors behind a choice to choose the illegal over the legal one. First, the perceived probability of conviction. Whether the probability of conviction serves to deter the sex worker to enter the illegal sector depends on other factors ( u j ) such as her attitude towards risk. Second, the cost of punishment. Again, whether the anticipated loss of income arising from the travel ban should she be convicted serves to deter her entry to the illegal sector depends on other factors.

Discussion 05 Government policies Increase f Increase p match the duration of ban faced by more frequent police raids illegal workers to that of the legal sector reduce the duration of the ban faced more extensive police patrols by legal workers.

Th Thanks anks fo for r li list stening! ening!