Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, August 2
SINGAPORE : More masseuses are now taking up professional massage courses following tougher licensing requirements set by the police.
According to the Spa Institute, more than 150 people have signed up for its courses since June.
Another training institute, The Spa and Wellness Academy, said the number has increased 14—fold in recent months.
The Police Licensing Division has made it a requirement that by 2012, all massage parlours and spa establishments must hire only masseuses with professional qualifications if they want their licences renewed.
By June this year, 20 per cent of them must be professional trained.
But some spa and massage operators said they are finding it difficult to meet the new licensing requirements.
Training courses do not come cheap as it costs S$2,000 to S$8,000 just to train one therapist.
To help defray their costs, spa and massage operators can get a subsidy in course fees of up to 90 per cent from the Skills Development Fund.
The subsidy, which is available to Singaporeans, comes under the Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework of the Workforce Development Agency. — CNA/ms
