A new national private security identification card for more than 32,000 unarmed private security officers
28 July 2009
Joint Media Release
1 Imagine 32,000 unarmed private security officers, each issued with a national Private Security Identification Card (ID card) that signifies, “I have been screened, licensed and trained to be a security officer.” This may sound like a challenging task to accomplish for the private security industry but it will become a reality when Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, officially launches the use of the ID card during the Security Industry National Day Observance Ceremony 2009 to be held on 1 August 2009, Saturday.
2 Under the law, it has become mandatory for all private security officers to carry and display their ID cards when they are on duty. With about 32,000 unarmed private security officers in Singapore, the ID card will serve as a common identification and link for the private security industry here.
3 Additionally, the ID card initiative will have a significant impact in raising the standards and professionalism of the private security industry and enhancing the image of private security officers. This is because every private security officer has to pass the mandatory security screening by the Security Industry Regulatory Department (SIRD) of the Singapore Police Force; be licensed by the SIRD; and attain the mandatory Security Workforce Skills Qualification (Security WSQ) training (unless exempted), before they can work as a private security officer. This helps to ensure that every private security officer would be cleared and fit to perform their duties of safeguarding the interests of our community, society and nation.
4 The ID card initiative was first mooted in 2006 by the tripartite Security Industry Forum (SIF), which consists representatives from SIRD, Association of Certified Security Agencies (ACSA), Security Association (Singapore) (SAS), Ministry of Manpower (MOM), WDA and Union of Security Employees (USE), as part of the tripartite Job Re-creation Programme (JRP) efforts to give the security workforce better jobs, better pay and consequently, a better standard of living. The private security industry has always been frowned upon as a low-wage industry and thus, the tripartite partners were determined to enhance the image, standards and professionalism of the private security industry through various JRP initiatives. The ID card initiative is one such example and it receives strong support and positive feedback from the tripartite partners. After a year of intense discussions and consultations within the SIF, SIRD has introduced new legislation to enhance regulatory controls and professionalism (including the provision for an ID card) within the private security industry.
5 The ID card initiative also demonstrates the close tripartite co-operation and commitment among partners like the ACSA, SAS, SIRD, Ministry of Home Affairs, MOM, WDA, National Trades Union Congress and USE to redevelop the private security industry. Through this initiative, the tripartite partners hope to instill a greater sense of pride among private security officers by giving them a form of national identification and recognition.
6 Concurrently, the ID card initiative provides the means for SIRD to carry out enforcement checks and audits on the ground to ensure that all unarmed private security officers deployed are properly screened and trained for the job. This is important in raising the skills, knowledge and sensitivity of a private security officer, which in turn, are critical to keeping our homeland safe and secure from threats. A common ID card will also help members of the public identify a bona fide private security officer who has been screened, licensed and trained to assist them in times of need. With rising demand for security services in the next one to three years in view of the new Integrated Resorts, Formula One racing and new hotel, retail, residential and financial hub developments, the tripartite partners are determined to enhance the private security industry to transform it into a force to be reckoned with.
7 Given the large scale of the ID card initiative, i.e., more than 32,000 unarmed private security officers, SIRD has enlisted USE’s assistance to issue and distribute the ID card for all unarmed private security employees from security agencies and in-house establishments. The rolling out of the ID card initiative will be rolled out in two phases from 1 August 2009 to end 2010. Phase 1 will involve the production and issuance of cards to all unarmed private security officers across more than 280 private security agencies. Phase 2 will extend the issuance of cards to in-house security officers, including club bouncers and personnel performing security-related tasks across private premises and establishments that are now regulated by SIRD with the passing of the new legislation.
8 USE kicked-off a pilot phase in May 2009 to issue the ID cards and since then, more than 5,000 unarmed private security officers have already received their ID cards from USE via the NTUC Customer Service Counter at One Marina Boulevard, which serves as a one-stop service for ID card briefing, application and collection. Feedback from private security officers who have received their ID cards so far have been very positive, and they are proud to display their new ID cards at their workplace. This bears early testament to the tripartite partners’ efforts and success in enhancing the image and raising the professionalism of the private security industry.
Jointly issued by:
Security Industry Regulatory Department
(Singapore Police Force)
Association of Certified Security Agencies
Security Association (Singapore)
Ministry of Manpower
Workforce Development Agency
Union of Security Employees
