Anti Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Act 2015

Brief Description

In order to combat trafficking in persons crimes, the country introduced the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 which has since been amended twice in 2010 and 2015 respectively. The amendments in 2010, among others, were to widen the definition of trafficking in persons to also include labour exploitation as well as to provide for harsher punishments for profits obtained from the crime. Furthermore, the amendments also criminalise people smuggling activities and subsequently the Act became known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM). In addition, the amendments to ATIPSOM 2007 in 2015 were designed to be victim centric. NGOs are now given greater roles and functions, especially in the aspect of care and protection of trafficked victims. Among the significant amendments were provisions on allowing trafficked victims to be given the permission to move freely and permission to work, as well as providing subsistence allowance to trafficked victims on a monthly basis.