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As many as 30 massage parlours in People's Park Centre allegedly offering sexual services
A owner of a legitimate massage parlour said his business was affected.
Winnie Li
December 23, 2025, 10:25 AM
Massage parlours offering sexual services have apparently made a comeback at the People's Park Centre in Chinatown.
An insider told Shin Min Daily News that female sex workers started to go back to the building from 2022, when the Covid-19 pandemic waned.
In recent years, the shopping complex made headlines as women dressed in revealing clothing were often seen soliciting customers publicly along the corridor.While the women were said to have kept a lower profile nowadays, the number of massage parlours offering sexual services has ballooned to over 30, surpassing the number of such businesses pre-pandemic, according to the insider.
On ground & 3rd floor
The insider who tipped Shin Min off claimed that footfall to People's Park Centre had declined sharply in recent years, with visitors mostly patronising businesses on the first and second floors.
According to its website, People's Park Centre's retail business spans four floors."The rent for ground and third floors was therefore cheaper. Sometimes, the rent was even half. As such, many female masseuses could rent half of a unit without experiencing any difficulties in paying the rent," said the insider.
For example, the rent for half a unit on the third floor apparently costs S$1,000, but over S$2,000 on the first or second floor.
As a result, massage parlours offering sexual services are primarily located on the ground and third floors of the building, added the insider.Women no longer dressed in revealing clothes
The insider added that masseuses nowadays no longer dress in revealing outfits while soliciting business, Shin Min reported."Most of them will dress modestly. However, there are partitioned rooms inside their massage parlours. Whenever the customer steps inside, they will offer sexual services to earn extra money," said the insider.
The insider also shared that the increasing competition amongst the parlours had forced some masseuses to charge a price as low as S$30 for sexual services.Women seen soliciting business in front of parlours
When a Shin Min reporter visited the building in November 2025, there were massage parlours on almost every floor of the building's retail section.A woman would usually stand in front of the parlour and beckon men over whenever they walked past.
If the visitor stopped, the woman would immediately usher them into the parlour to discuss business.According to the reporter, the women usually quoted him between S$50 and S$150 for their services.
However, when the reporter pointed three fingers, one of the women whispered, "S$30," as he walked past her.
Affected legitimate businesses
Massage parlours offering sexual services have apparently caused trouble for those who do not engage in such businesses, reported Shin Min.
A legitimate massage parlour owner shared that two female employees had previously complained to him that passers-by often asked whether they offered "special services".When they replied that they do not, some passers-by allegedly mocked them for not knowing how to make money.
The owner also recounted that passers-by even clapped back by saying, "If you do not engage in the unspeakable, you should not be in this line of business."
"We once had a customer who asked our female employees on multiple visits whether they offered sexual services. One time, he claimed that he had struck the jackpot, and he could afford to pay my employees a high price to have sex with him. We did not know what to do about it," lamented the owner.Illicit businesses would reopen shortly after raids
The owner added that whenever the authorities carried out raids in the building, the massage parlours that engaged in illicit business would reopen shortly after, reported Shin Min.
According to him, the female sex workers had a group chat which allowed them to close down their businesses and leave immediately after the authorities raided one of the massage parlours."Additionally, as there are many such massage parlours around here, it is very difficult to bring all of them to task," said the owner.
Top image via Shin Min Daily News & Google Maps
