Introduction

Rani, then aged 26, came into Singapore as a foreign bride and married her 46 year-old Singaporean
husband in 1997. She was constantly abused both physically and mentally and marital rape was common
in their relationship. She was persuaded by her mother to carry on for the sake of her daughter and that
this was her lot in life. Her husband only got worse as he eventually lost his job and the only livelihood
the family was relying on as the abuse intensified. When he finally passed away in 2007, her marital woes
did not end. She was left stranded without a house as she had always been under a social visit pass and
she was not qualified to receive PR status despite living in Singapore for over 10 years and having a
daughter. This also excluded her from free or subsidized healthcare and job opportunities because she is
seen as a foreigner in the eyes of the law. Rani only finally obtained her PR status on compassionate
grounds through the continued efforts of social workers in 2008 but without qualifications, she could only
work as a cleaner with salary of $600 to support both her daughter, her family in India and herself. 1
The tale of Rani is not exclusively her lot in life. Similar stories are becoming commonplace among the
growing numbers of foreign brides in Singapore, some of which unlike Ranis case, ends in tragedy. 2
National statistics shows a sharp rise in marriages among Singapore citizen (SC) grooms and foreign
(Non-SC) brides, with figures around 6,360 in 2008, making up about three quarters of the total marriages
between SC and Non-SC.3 SC-grooms aged 40 and up make up over 30% of these marriages and about
1 Genevieve Jiang. More foreign brides suffering in silence. The New Paper, March
13, 2009. Last accessed at 20th March 2013. http://www.divaasia.com/article/2656
2 Channel NewsAsia. 13 November 2005. Last accessed at 20 th March 2013.
http://unwomen-nc.org.sg/resources/2005/13Nov2005_AWARE%20believes%20some
%20foreign%20brides%20mum%20on%20spousal%20abuse.pdf
3 National Population Secretariat. Marriages between Singapore citizen and nonSingapore citizens, 1998-2008. Last accessed at 20 th March 2013.
https://www.nptd.gov.sg/content/NPTD/news/_jcr_content/par_content/download_4/f
le.res/Marriages%20between%20citizens%20and%20non-citizens,%2019982008.pdf

27% of these marriages involved non-SC brides under 40. 4 These numbers are set to increase as
Singapore increasingly becomes an attractive immigration spot for these foreign brides, joining countries
such as Japan and South Korea. 5 The local demand for these brides has also encouraged a proliferation of
foreign bride matchmaking agencies in Singapore, with about 70 of such agencies in operation since
2006.6 Reported cases of marital violence in these marriages however remain elusive and often
underreported but analysts estimate that foreign women are three times as likely to face domestic violence
than the general public7 while non-government organizations such as Archdiocesan Commission for the
Pastoral Care of Migrant and Itinerant People (ACMI) have reported receiving up to 30 of such cases in
Singapore during 2011.8 Other local NGOs have also reported similar increase in trends of foreign brides
seeking refuge over domestic abuse cases in the last few years. 9

4ibid
5 Asia Pacifc Mission for Migrants (APMM). Psychological Profle and Perspectives of
Foreign Brides. Last accessed at 20th March 2013.
http://www.childtrafficking.com/Docs/psychosocial_profle_0807.pdf
6 Patricia Gauthier & Adelyn Lim. Beyond Happily Ever After: Making A Match
Between Singapore Grooms and Foreign Brides. AWARE Position Paper, November
2006. Accessed on 20th March 2013. http://www.aware.org.sg/wpcontent/uploads/Beyond-Happily-Ever-After.pdf
7 April Thomson. Love For Sale: The mail order bride industry. Asian Geographic
No.6, 2007. Pp 68-77. Last accessed on 20th March 2013.
http://www.aprilwrites.com/articles/community/LoveforSale.pdf
8 Amanda Phua. Brides are not commodities The New Paper, February 24, 2012.
Last accessed on 20th March 2013. http://acmi.sg/Files/Documents/TNP%20Article
%2024022012.pdf
9AWARE Singapore. General Recommendation 19: Violence against women.
AWARE CEDAW Shadow Report 2011. Pp 1-16. Last accessed on 19th March 2013.
http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/ips/docs/events/CDD_CEDAW%20Report_050312/CEDAW
%20Shadow%20Report%20GR19%20AWARE_2011.pdf

Aim
The aim of this paper is to highlight the urgent concerns of the foreign bride arena on three areas and
provide modest policy recommendations to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to
address them. One, the current patriarchal arrangements in these marriages breeds a highly hostile
environment for these foreign women, leaving them extremely vulnerable to abuse and marital rape by
their spouses without any avenues to seek justice. Second, the foreign bride market is not adequately
regulated to prevent manipulation and malpractices that exploits both foreign brides and the local grooms,
putting them at greater risks of marital problems and promotes human trafficking. Lastly, the current
policy framework in place is not sufficient or even detrimental in addressing the issues listed in the first
two areas, allowing more victims to fall through the social security nets. As an organization that
fundamentally believes in achieving gender equality through the removal of gender based barriers, we
(AWARE Singapore) assert that the more can and should be done in this marital arena, especially towards
the women.

Issues and Concerns

The patriarchy of mail-order marriages leading to domestic violence in Singapore
The nature of such marital arrangements is often highlighted as willing parties within a social
exchange arrangement seeking out the best for themselves. SC-grooms seek the demure, traditional and
family-oriented foreign brides in exchange for an easy opportunity for the women to escape poverty and a
chance at a better standard of living. Stereotypical images of Singaporean men being more faithful to their
wives and hardworking breadwinners than their local counterparts also contribute to foreign women

seeking Singaporean men.10 In reality however, the current issues in these marital unions go beyond just
mere willing social exchanges and puts the sanctity of these families at serious risk.
The first issue is the element of slavery in these marriages. The demands of the SC-grooms of
their foreign brides are often regarded as commodities that are justified by the price paid for the marital
union. Thus, by paying a mere $10,000 for the expenses 11, the men often think they are buying the
womb of the woman for offspring, the body for sexual pleasures and her labor for his care. 12 To the SCgroom, he views his spouse as his woman which he has alleviated from the misery of poverty back in
her hometown. Thus, the power relations in the relationship is often already skewed in favor of the SCgroom and when their spouses resists in the demands, the men may not feel guilt or even feel entitled to
force his will upon her. Thus, the social exchanges may not even exist between the two individuals and in
place instead is more akin to an economic exchange between the SC-groom and an agent for the bride.
The second issue follows the power relations from the first but in the perspectives of the women.
The primary concern is that despite knowing that they are in desperate conditions, these women often feel
that it is a normal outcome and their lot in lives, reflecting the situation in Ranis case earlier. This is the
result of the patriarchal bargain mechanism that is prevalent in many of these Southeast Asian regions,
especially in areas such as rural China or Vietnam. 13 Many of these foreign brides are brought up in
societies that are highly patriarchal as well as patrilineal, and are not accustomed to resist violence and

10 Theresa Tan. More Singapore men marrying foreign Asian brides. The Straits
Times, 02 October 2013. Last accessed on 19th March 2013.
http://www.divaasia.com/article/18558
11 Youtube Vietnamese Mail-Order Bride #2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=FScBxMqC9cI#!
12 Amanda Phua. Brides are not commodities The New Paper, February 24, 2012.
Last accessed on 20th March 2013. http://acmi.sg/Files/Documents/TNP%20Article
%2024022012.pdf

abuse from both male and more senior female actors in their societies. 14,15 In many of these societies, the
significance of the bride price also functions as a legitimate exchange for the obedience of these women
to be subjugated to the lower ranks in the family.16 As such, these foreign spouses are more tolerant of
domestic violence and regard atrocities such as marital rape as their husbands rights. Their importing
of patriarchal marital union standards from their societies into Singapore puts these women at greater risk
of accepting abuse and not seeking help beyond the private sphere because they may be seen as shameful
or undutiful.17
The third issue involves the mismatch of networks available for the foreign women to seek support or
refuge once she arrives into Singapore. Most of these women do not know who to turn to during distress
nor do they know their rights. 18 Language barriers also often become an issue when the women are unable
express their situations.19 At the same time, these women are often not aware of the profiles of their
13 Nazli Kibiria. Power, Patriarchy, and Gender Conflict in the Vietnamese
Immigrant Community. Gender and Society, vol. 4, No. 1, March 1990. Pp 9-24. Last
accessed on 20th March 2013. http://www.udel.edu/anthro/psw/kibria.pdf
14 ibid
15 Deniz Kandiyoti. Bargaining with Patriarchy. Gender and Society, Vol. 2, No. 3,
September 1988. Pp 274-290. Last accessed on 20 th March 2013.
http://www.smi.uib.no/seminars/Pensum/kandiyoti,%20Deniz.pdf
16 ibid
17 Nazli Kibiria. Power, Patriarchy, and Gender Conflict in the Vietnamese
Immigrant Community. Gender and Society, vol. 4, No. 1, March 1990. Pp 9-24. Last
accessed on 20th March 2013.
18 Amanda Phua. Brides are not commodities The New Paper, February 24, 2012.
Last accessed on 20th March 2013. http://acmi.sg/Files/Documents/TNP%20Article
%2024022012.pdf
19 April Thomson. Love For Sale: The mail order bride industry. Asian Geographic
No.6, 2007. Pp 68-77. Last accessed on 20th March 2013.

spouses during the time of the marriage nor do they remain in connection with the agents that brought
them into Singapore.20 Thus they are at a severely disadvantaged position when the spouses, who are
supposed to be their only local financial and legal guardian, become the primary perpetrators of domestic
violence and abuse.21 These women are forced to endure abuse for fear of being repatriated through
divorce and returning home in shame. 22 Moreover, their application for PR status, social visit pass and
daily subsistence is solely under the control of their spouses. 23 The combination of all these factors creates
even greater inertia towards reporting against or resisting their spouses even if the legal system offers
equal protection for foreign wives.
Malpractices in matchmaking agencies
Inadequate regulation of the foreign bride matchmaking market in Singapore has also exacerbated the
issues listed above. To date, regulations towards the industry have only been categorized under the
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and Advertising Standards Authority of
Singapore (ASAS) jurisdictions.24 Regulations that aim at accrediting best practices in these foreign
matchmaking agencies are not legally required or are enforced, even when a framework is available from
http://www.aprilwrites.com/articles/community/LoveforSale.pdf
20 Amanda Phua. Brides are not commodities The New Paper, February 24, 2012.
Last accessed on 20th March 2013. http://acmi.sg/Files/Documents/TNP%20Article
%2024022012.pdf
21 April Thomson. Love For Sale: The mail order bride industry. Asian Geographic
No.6, 2007. Pp 68-77. Last accessed on 20th March 2013.
http://www.aprilwrites.com/articles/community/LoveforSale.pdf
22 Channel NewsAsia. 13 November 2005. Last accessed at 20 th March 2013.
http://unwomen-nc.org.sg/resources/2005/13Nov2005_AWARE%20believes%20some
%20foreign%20brides%20mum%20on%20spousal%20abuse.pdf
23 Immigration and Checkpoint Authority Singapore.
http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=175&secid=171

the Social Development Network agency (SDN). 25 In the foreign bride industry, matchmaking agencies
remain absent in associations such as the Association for Dating Agencies and Matchmakers (ADAMS). 26
Compared to other similar migrant-related industries such as domestic help agencies, the foreign-bride
matchmaking agencies are far more prone to exploitation and in certain cases have already breached laws
concerning human trafficking-related issues in overseas. 27 These agencies also act as potential instruments
in sham marriages and sex-trafficking cases in Singapore due to the lack of proper corporate governance
in these areas.28,29 This puts foreign brides at greater risks of sex-related exploitation by their spouses and
agencies when they are rejected and sent away after being taken advantaged without legal protection. 30
Assessing other policy measures

24 Ministry of Social and Family Development: Media Queries.

http://app.msf.gov.sg/PressRoom/Marriagemediaqueries.aspx
25 ibid
26Association of Dating Agencies and Matchmakers (ADAMS).
http://www.adams.org.sg/
27 Crystal Chan. Were bride brokers, not human traffickers. The New Paper,
December 28, 2009. Last Accessed on 17th March 2013.
http://www.divaasia.com/article/6731
28 Crystal Chan. Sham marriage ring exposed The New Paper, June 14, 2010.
Last accessed on 19th March 2013. http://www.asiaone.com/News/The%2BNew
%2BPaper/Story/A1Story20100614-222065.html
29 AWARE Singapore. Article 6: Trafficking and Exploitation of Women. AWARE
CEDAW Shadow Report 2011. Last accessed on 19th March 2013.
http://www.aware.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/ARTICLES-6.pdf
30 Patricia Gauthier & Adelyn Lim. Beyond Happily Ever After: Making A Match
Between Singapore Grooms and Foreign Brides. AWARE Position Paper, November
2006. Accessed on 20th March 2013. http://www.aware.org.sg/wpcontent/uploads/Beyond-Happily-Ever-After.pdf

Apart from the various policies mentioned above, the current policies involving subsidized/free healthcare
services, employment regulations and finance related issues has created further implications to the plight
of these foreign women and the couples family. Although the introduction of the Long-Term Visit PassPlus promised greater coverage31, the bureaucratic process and discretionary approval rates often leave
affected families with uncertainties, frustrations and lost economic opportunities. 32 These women are also
often excluded from financial instruments such being able to open a bank account, or acquire legal loans
and personal insurances because of their foreign status with little to no income, depriving them of the
means to savings and protection for them and their children. 33 Current policies have also not attempted at
addressing the social stigmas which many of these foreign brides face during their residence that often
undermine their rights as a woman. 34 Meanwhile on the international stage, the lack of a serious
consideration within the policies to tackle issues of potential trafficking, domestic violence and marital
rapes in the foreign brides arena puts Singapore at risk of being seen as not only condoning modern
slavery, sexual exploitation, trafficking and double standards in rights compared to local women, but in
fact supporting these atrocities, in regards to the treatment of foreign brides in Singapore. 35

31Immigration and Checkpoint Authority Singapore.

http://www.ica.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=12665
32 Straits Times Singapore. February 12, 2013.
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/dilemma-foreign-bride-nolong-term-pass-20130212
33AWARE Singapore. Article 4: Special Measures. AWARE CEDAW Shadow Report
2011. Last accessed on 19th March 2013. http://www.aware.org.sg/wpcontent/uploads/ARTICLES-4.pdf
34 April Thomson. Love For Sale: The mail order bride industry. Asian Geographic
No.6, 2007. Pp 68-77. Last accessed on 20th March 2013.
http://www.aprilwrites.com/articles/community/LoveforSale.pdf

Policy Recommendation
The recommendations brought forward to the MSF aims at providing the following resolutions: (1)
Empowering foreign women in such marriages through awareness, education, legal protection and
enforcement as well as a proper social support strategy through the Many Helpings Hands (MHH)
approach. (2) Increased regulations within the foreign-bride matchmaking industry with an added legal
enforcement and persecution complying with the strict anti-trafficking stance in Singapore. (3)
Adequately address the issues of access to healthcare, employment and financial instruments through a
revamp on the current areas of exclusions and discriminations in several policies, including the LongTerm Visit Pass-Plus.
Empowerment strategies through the Many Helping Hands approach.
Resources and public awareness
Aligning with the current stance of the Singapore Governments in addressing social issues as an
enabler, we first propose that the concerns of these foreign brides and their family be incorporated into
MHH approach as an entity with its own funds set aside instead of being categorized under the low
income or VWO donations segment of the amount in the budget. 36 This creates the much needed
resources for the various bodies in the MHH approach to step up in its research and program coverage
specifically in this area. Government agencies such as the National Council of Social Service should
coordinate with Voluntary Welfare Organizations (VWOs) that are already dealing with such marital
35United Nations General Assembly. Women Anti-Discrimination Committee
Commends Singapore on Progress, but presses it to withdraw reservations to
convention, strengthen domestic legal framework.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/wom1647.doc.htm
36 Braema, Mathi & Sharifah Mohamed. Unmet Social Needs in Singapore. Lien
Centre for Social Innovation Social Insight Series. October 2011. Last accessed on
20th March 2013.
http://www.lcsi.smu.edu.sg/downloads/Unmet_Social_Needs_in_Singapore.pdf

violence to collect more data and analysis so as

to

further

understand

this

phenomenon,

especially in severely underreported areas such

as marital rape. This fund allocation also creates
the much needed emphasis for this issue to be
raised into public discussions as well as
parliamentary debates.
Additionally, the MSF should take a leading
example by setting an agenda for a campaign
aimed at raising awareness, dispelling stigmas and providing avenues of social support for families with
foreign brides within this year. This campaign will go hand-in-hand with the United Nations mission of
ending violence against women through action 37, signaling a positive attempt by the Singapore
government to take matters concerning human rights and the dignity of women seriously. At home, this
move will help to raise the general level of awareness among Singaporeans to further curb passivity
towards reporting domestic violence of their neighbors and friends.
Reconnecting relevant agencies under the MSF
Many of these couples in such marriages are not exposed nor informed about the importance and the
availability of marriage courses provided by agencies such as the Marriage Central and other Family
Service Centers (FSCs) even though they are the target group that often require such services. We
recommend a mandatory free marriage preparation program scheme for all couples who wish to
solemnize their wedding in Singapore as long as one of their partners is a foreigner. This would also apply
to foreign marital solemnization when the couple returns to Singapore. This course should focus on an

37 United Nations. International Womens Day 2013. Last Accessed on 20 th March

2013. http://www.un.org/en/events/womensday/

integrative approach in helping the couples to understand their roles in this marriage as two proper
individuals in the cultural context of Singapore.
The Social Development Network (SDN) must also play an integral role in extending its focus to
the nature of the courtship phenomenon within such marriages. As an agency that promotes marriages in
Singapore,38 the SDN must work alongside with matchmaking agencies to ensure that these marriages are
properly introduced with the information of the bride and groom readily and accurately accessible for
both parties. Both parties should also sign an undertaking with the matchmaking agencies held legally
liable as a proper intermediary in regards to disclosure of personal information such as personal health,
financial status, criminal record and other personal obligations. Also, the SDN should carry out a
mandatory information session for newly arrived foreign women on the Women Charter as well as their
rights and how they can access legal aid. The SDN is also capable of building up new social support
networks by bringing together couples in these similar circumstances to share their experiences through
the list of activities available. The purpose is to naturalize the process of these arranged marriages to
reflect courtship habits similar to the mainstream standards so that these couples do not feel excluded
from society.
The FSCs available also play a significant role in providing social assistance and refuge. We recommend
that major FSCs or FSCs that has experience dealing with such cases in their vicinity to be equipped with
a translator or social worker capable of conversing in Thai, Vietnamese and Burmese language. This lifts
the language barriers that often discouraged the foreign brides to seek redress. Additionally, FSCs can
work closely with grass-root organizations and activities such as the Meet-The-People session volunteers
to collate and identify households that have requested appeals for social visit passes. From there, they can
work with VWOs to conduct personal visits as well as provide a listening ear and advice to these families.
These visits help to curb opportunities of domestic violence from occurring or managing them before it is
too late. FSCs could also work with community centers to provide English language and basic skill
38 Social Development Network. http://app.sdn.sg/AboutSDN.aspx

courses for the foreign women to better equip them with the skills needed for communication in
Singapore.
Increased regulation for foreign bride matchmaking agencies.
Corporate governance in agencies
We recommend the MSF to bring forward the issue of the lack in corporate governance in these
agencies to other relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in relations to the
monitoring the movement of foreign brides. We advise to disallow matchmaking agencies to bring in
awaiting foreign brides under any circumstances unless a reliable prospect is willing to undertake a
meeting. With the increasing availability of computers and the internet use in emigrating countries, we
propose that agencies can first set up an online meeting between the two individuals before applying for
the womans trip into Singapore. The woman should also have access to the mans profile before
consenting to come to Singapore. Agencies should also declare the backgrounds of the foreign women
which they are arranging the marriage from and undertake legal liabilities for their declaration. This will
motivate agencies to be more stringent in their selection process of both males and female candidates.
Legal persecution associating with trafficking
Matchmaking agencies that flout the law regarding matters of foreign matchmaking should be
handled as a trafficking offence. This will serve as a stern reminder of the serious stance the Singapore
government takes in breaking down trafficking syndicates in the region and send strong signals against
potential malpractices.39 Also, the MSF should support foreign bride matchmaking agencies to adopt the
best practices in accordance with prominent agencies in the region so that a proper legal framework can
be achieved where agencies are committed to ensuring honesty and due diligence in matching individuals.
Policy Review: Healthcare, employment and residence
39 Ministry of Manpower. National Plan of Action Against Trafficking in Persons:
2012-2015. http://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/tip/tipbooklet_080812.pdf

Healthcare
We recommend a policy to include foreign women that are not under the LTVP+ (long term visit passplus) to be eligible for healthcare services and subsidies similar to LTVP+ holders if the following clauses
are met: (1) if the woman is receiving medical treatment associating with fertility related issues, (2) if the
woman has suffered physical or mental injuries during her residence in Singapore and, (3) if the woman
has declared a pre-existing condition that requires medical attention during her residence in Singapore.
Additionally, the women should be given autonomy to decide her access to healthcare as her own sponsor
instead of her spouse. Financial assistance schemes and support should be made available for the foreign
women so that they are not fully reliant on their spouses and that it helps these families to alleviate costs.
Employment
We recommend the MSF to advocate for an employment scheme catered towards allowing these
foreign women to seek work with benefits accorded to an employee. For those who choose to be
homemakers, we recommend periodic visits by social workers to ensure that these women are well
adjusted into their roles. By allowing these women to work, it will help to provide greater economic
opportunities for the families and alleviate some financial burden from their spouses.
Residence
We recommend the MSF to explore arrangements such as other than the spouse, VWOs can act as
a sponsor for the application of the long term visit passes. In applying for PR status, VWOs could work
with spouses as co-sponsors to increase the chances of success and prevent abusive spouses from
manipulating their wives by withholding PR status. We also recommend the application process of the
LTVP+ to be more transparent and collaborate with VWOs to hasten the application process. This is to
provide greater protection for these women who do not need to live in fear under their spouses.

Conclusion

Singapore is increasingly becoming a major player in the foreign bride market and international
marriages are set to increase ahead. 40 Despite the growing trends, the chronic lack of support, research and
advocacy towards protecting the rights of foreign brides remain alarmingly problematic. Many of these
women often bear untold suffering in the comforts of their own homes by the spouses that were supposed
to be their only chance at a better life. The acts of slavery, commoditization of marriage and family and
the cries of sexual exploitations must stop now. As advocates in AWARE Singapore condemn these
practices, we believe the MSF has both a moral and a legal duty in protecting these women from
inhumane standards of living. Only by condemning such acts through the nation-level initiatives
recommended will Singapore redeem itself as a nation that preserves and respect the basic rights and
liberty of women in Singapore regardless of nationality.

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