The appointed marketing agent for Bedok Residences, ERA, said as many as 500 people have formed a queue outside Bedok Residences since Sunday.
But it said only those above 16 years of age have been queuing overnight, from 11pm to 6am, for the project.
ERA said the people in the queue are paid by agents with potential buyers keen on the project.
The agents themselves are not able to join the queue as they have appointments and other commitments.
Some of them also have more than one customer keen to purchase a unit.
The clients too have work commitments.
ERA said its agents have been informed of Ministry of Manpower (MOM) guidelines on age limits for part-time employment.
But some of those paid to queue may be getting younger replacements – aged 13 to 15 years – to relieve them in the day.
The company added though, that it is not illegal to employ those between 13 and 15, as long as the work is not strenuous and they do not work beyond 11pm.
ERA said it conducted a spot check on Monday night to ensure that no one flouts the rules.
It said students in the queue are there to earn some extra pocket money during the school holidays. The students will also be provided breakfast, lunch and dinner.
ERA said the developer, CapitaLand, had opted for a first-come-first-serve basis to sell the apartment units as it is a more transparent process.
The agency had originally planned to start sales on Tuesday, but they did not expect queues to form by Sunday.
To relieve buyers from having to queue overnight, property agents then employed helpers to queue for them instead.
Source : Channel NewsAsia – 22 Nov 2011