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Sep 12, 2006
Escort agencies beefing up ranks for mega-meet
Spike in demand expected; agencies seeking 'young, outgoing' S'pore
girls
By Ben Nadarajan & Khushwant Singh
ESCORT agencies here are going on a recruitment drive in a bid to
cash in on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank
meetings that begin this week.
Advertisements offering short-term jobs have sprung up in various
newspapers' classified ads sections, on the Internet and even on
the streets over the past few weeks.
Almost all the agencies are looking for women, or 'young, outgoing
girls' to be exact. They are generally after Singapore applicants
who are in their 20s, tall, 'athletic' and 'confident', but most
will accept applications from any Asian women, the ads claim.
The Straits Times called up several agencies listed in the Yellow
Pages and asked about job openings. One agency, based in Orchard
Towers, was looking for as many as 10 more escorts 'just for the
next few weeks'. Most of the other companies are looking for around
five more escorts.
A female receptionist at an escort agency located in Lucky Plaza
said Singapore women are more in demand than foreigners at the
moment, as she thinks locals will be more popular with IMF and
World Bank delegates.
This is a reversal of the usual trend, said the owner of another
escort agency in Orchard Plaza, who told The Straits Times that
foreign women are usually preferred to locals.
'But with the IMF meet in Singapore, we want to recruit more local
girls to jazz up the 'Uniquely Singapore' factor among potential
clients,' he said.
The agencies said that although they can hire women 18 years old
and above, they prefer women in their early 20s as younger women
are less knowledgeable.
'New recruits know what the escort industry is all about so they
are aware of their duties,' said Ms Venus Lim, who did not want her
agency to be named.
New escorts are given some training before they start work. These
include tips on how to dress well, lessons on good communication
skills and, most importantly, how to smile.
Some agencies even hand out photocopies of media reports about the
meetings for their escorts to read, so that they are not completely
clueless when they talk to their clients.
The usual going rate for escorts is around $150 to $200 for an
hour's work, although that is set to increase to about $200 to
$250. Overnight rates usually hover around $1,000.
Agency managers said that escorts are not obliged to offer sexual
services, but added that what happens privately between the women
and the clients is a private matter.
Prostitution is not illegal in Singapore but soliciting can be
punished with a $1,000 fine, and a maximum $2,000 fine and six
months' jail for subsequent offences.
Several local agencies are also getting linked up to international
escort online directories. Mr Lee Jinkels, the American webmaster
of one of these online directories, said in an e-mail message that
he had received at least 10 requests in the past month from
Singapore agencies asking for their links to be placed on his list
of recommendations.
Each agency has to pay about US$200 (S$315) for a listing.
Mr Jinkels said: 'We even have requests from escort agencies in
towns near Singapore, such as Johor Baru.'
The anticipated demand for social escorts during this period is
also expected to draw a host of freelancers to Singapore.
These women, usually from nearby Asian countries, will most likely
hang out at pubs and nightspots scouting for business.
Although some agencies are recruiting escorts, others complained
that business had dipped recently as travellers are avoiding
Singapore, fearing a shortage of hotel rooms during the IMF-World
Bank meet.
While large international meetings such as this one are good for
business, these agencies say that demand for their escorts peaks
when foreign navies are in town.
'Then, their senior officers often hire our girls,' said Ms
Lim.
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WHAT DO THEY TAKE OUR SG WOMEN
FOR??
