The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for the Security industry was first announced by the Security Tripartite Cluster (STC) in October 2014. Spearheaded by the Labour Movement, the PWM for the Security industry serves several objectives. First, it aims to provide a clear training and career progression pathway for security officers to earn higher wages as they become better skilled, more productive and take on higher job responsibilities. This motivates security officers to constantly upgrade themselves to achieve their aspirations. Second, security agencies would be able to better attract and retain well-trained security officers. Third, service buyers can also look forward to higher-quality security services from a better-skilled security workforce.
To ensure uniformity in adoption, the PWM wage and training requirements will be incorporated into the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department’s (PLRD) existing licensing framework for security agencies. From 1 September 2016, security agencies must ensure their security officers complete the required training under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework for Security, and are paid wages that are in line with or higher than the progressive wage levels specified in the PWM. Security agencies that do not comply with PWM requirements may not have their licenses renewed.
More Benefitting From Early Adoption
Since the launch of the PWM for the Security industry, STC members have been actively engaging security agencies to brief them on the PWM requirements and encouraging them to plan ahead to meet the PWM training and wage requirements by 1 September 2016, or earlier.
The STC is encouraged by some early adopters who have started paying their security officers higher wages and sending them for training ahead of the 1 September 2016 deadline.
To date, about 180 security agencies, or about 70 per cent of all security agencies, have started sending their security officers for PWM training, aside from the mandatory basic and advanced licensing modules. The industry estimates that about 15,000 active security officers, or about 35 per cent of all active security officers, still need to be trained in line with the PWM requirements. If this trend continues, some security officers would only be licensed to perform the more basic job functions of lower PWM job rungs. Security agencies therefore need to take decisive action in order to meet the PWM training requirements by 1 September 2016.
Measures to facilitate compliance with training requirements
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) has worked with training partners such as the Security Industry Institute (SII) and NTUC LearningHub to increase training capacity. Our training partners have committed to ramp up their training capacity to cater to the expected increase in demand. Flexible training delivery such as weekend classes, bite-sized modules and on-site training at the trainee’s locations have also been introduced.
In addition, security officers who already have the relevant skills, knowledge and experience can opt for direct assessment under the Assessment Only Pathway (AOP) route without undergoing full training, to attain the required certification or Statement of Attainment (SOA). Preparatory classes were also introduced to further assist security personnel prior to them undertaking the AOP.
To encourage more experienced security officers to attain the necessary qualifications via the AOP route, NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) is providing funding to the first 2,000 workers who undergo the AOP. Funding is provided at up to 90 per cent of the assessment fee. To qualify for the grant, companies must enrol their workers before 30 April 2016 and complete the assessment by 30 July 2016.
“We believe that the PWM for the security sector will result in better wages for our security officers as they improve their productivity, and offer better security outcomes for service buyers. Security agencies should not delay sending their workers for training and should take advantage of the available funding and flexible training options. It is encouraging that the majority of security agencies have started sending their security officers for training and are planning to meet the PWM requirements early and I hope more will do so.” said Minister of State for Manpower and Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Sam Tan.
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General, Mr Zainal Sapari, who is also Chairman of the STC, said, “It is extremely important that security agencies meet the training requirements before the deadline to ensure that their security officers are equipped to perform their job functions and that they receive the wages commensurate with their job levels. We hope to see quicker progress in terms of training so that more security officers can benefit from better jobs and better wages earlier, even before the licensing condition kicks-in. We therefore urge service buyers to work with their service providers to allow the security officers at their respective sites to attend the required training as stipulated in the PWM.”
Mr Alvin Lee, Managing Director, Reachfield Security and Safety Management Pte Ltd, said “Adoption of technology and PWM had given us a competitive advantage by allowing us to better differentiate our "product" with buyers. As early adopters, we believe we have also enjoyed first-mover advantage.”
