More masseuses taking up professional
courses
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