Handbook to raise private security officers’ awareness of employment rights
5,000 copies will be made available to private security officers
A Security Officer Handbook is now available to all private security employees to help them better understand their employment rights. The handbook, published by the Union of Security Employees (USE) and WorkRight, which is an initiative by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Central Provident Fund (CPF), was launched at the Private Security Industry National Day Observance Ceremony (NDOC) held at the Marina Barrage today. Mr Zainal Bin Sapari, Director, NTUC Unit for Contract and Casual Workers (UCCW), was the Guest-of-Honour at the event.
The handbook highlights prevailing issues faced by the security industry in relation to the Employment Act like salary payment, rest days, overtime hours and notice period. Written for an interesting and easy read, the handbook is depicted in comic form and is based on real-life experiences of private security employees.
At the NDOC, Mr Zainal highlighted the importance and need for best HR practices among security firms to ensure security officers are given opportunities to upgrade their skills, earn better wages and ultimately, lead better lives.
He said, “It is important for good HR practices to be in place to protect this vulnerable group of workers and ensure they are able to move up the wage ladder. I am heartened that the union is working closely with our tripartite partners to implement a Progressive Wage Model (PWM) to map out career progression, recommend appropriate commencing wages and incorporate productivity and skills-training for private security officers.”
About 5,000 copies of the handbook will first be made available free to new and existing security officers. These will be distributed via the union, associations and security agencies. Copies will also be available at the Security Identification Card Centre at USE’s office, located in Waterloo Street. The handbook, which took 19 months to complete, will be mirrored on the NTUC and WorkRight websites and reviewed periodically to ensure it remains current.
Mr Steve Tan, Executive Secretary, USE, said, ““This handbook is part of USE’s continued efforts to help improve the security industry. In highlighting desirable practices the industry must aspire to adopt, we hope the image of the industry can be improved and more workers will be drawn to it. We will also work with security agencies and most importantly, service buyers, to ensure that security officers’ wages and work environment are improved.”
At the NDOC, unionised security agencies who had implemented best HR practices were present and acknowledged for their efforts in supporting the push to improve the security industry. Some 200 security officers and partners also gathered to sing the National Anthem and recite the Pledge to commemorate Singapore’s 48th National Day.
A copy of the handbook can be downloaded at this link.
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