Escort agencies here are 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 Singaporean 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 Singaporean 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 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 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 Singapore dollars (Bt3,560 to Bt4,700) 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 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.

The Straits Times

Asia News Network

Singapore