Good morning
Brother Hareenderpal Singh, President of the Union of Security Employees,
Brother Steve Tan, Executive Secretary of Union of Security Employees,
Tripartite Partners from the Police Licensing Regulatory Department, Ministry of Manpower, Singapore
Workforce Development Agency, and Members of the Private Security Industry,
Distinguished Guests,
Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my pleasure to be here this morning to join all of you for the 6th private security industry National Day Observance Ceremony to mark our nation’s 48th National Day.
I would like to begin my speech by asking a simple question. Who do you think would most likely be treated as a `hero’? A farmer or a hunter? If you watch TV or movies often enough, your answer would obviously be a `hunter’. Hunters are normally glorified by the villagers when they bring back their game or animal catch.
On the other hand, farmers, who on a daily routine basis take care of the farms and feed the animals, are seldom seen as heroes even when there is a good harvest. I think this analogy can be used to describe our private security officers. They are farmers. They are the unsung heroes that have played an important role in ensuring peace in our nation but are usually under appreciated. On today’s NDOC, I would like to pay tribute to all the private security officers and their organisations that have played an instrumental role in contributing to our nation’s peace and security.
Gone are the days when any Tom, Dick and Harry can be a security officer. My father worked as a security officer in the early 1980s. There was no training provided and his pay was low. Some companies even resorted to having just a warm body to look after their building and these workers were called `Jaga’ which literally means `watch over’.
The security industry has seen many changes in the past few years. Personally, I think the tipping point was Sep 11 when it made the government, private organisations and public realised the importance of having well-trained security officers.
There is now a structured training programme for a person to be a security officer. With Security Officers being better-equipped with skills and knowledge, they are then able to offer better service and assume higher responsibilities.
The introduction of the security identification card, the donning of uniforms back in 2009 and the implementation of the grading system for the security firms have all contributed much to professionalise the industry and helped to improve the image of security officers. Seldom do people now use the word `Jaga’ to describe a security officer.
All these efforts have helped to improve the gross wages of security officers from an average of close to $1,300 in 2008 to $1,600 in 2013. More can still be done to help our security officers earn better wages but it requires the concerted efforts of everyone in the security industry to improve productivity, skills and job prospects of security officers.
Productivity
Productivity in the security line can be enhanced with the use of technology. For example, with the use of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) or smartphones, Security Officers are now able to complete their patrol duty in a more efficient manner. It is thus important to train the Security Officers on the use of such new technology to maximise its use and improve productivity in the industry.
Progressive Wage Model
The union is currently working closely with our tripartite partners to implement a Progressive Wage Model (PWM) to map out career progression, and recommend appropriate wages that commensurate with the productivity and skills-training of the security officers. The Security Tripartite Cluster (STC) has been formed specifically for this purpose.
There is also another reason why a PWM must be developed for the private security industry which typically operates as a service provider to a service buyer. With manpower constituting a large portion of the operating costs, it is important that we need to create a level playing field when the private security firms bid for security contracts. If the salary structure is transparent and there is widespread consensus to adopt the PWM, companies will then have to compete with each other based on productivity rather than finding means to cut manpower costs which can lead to low salaries for the security officers.
The current salary structure of the security officers must also be reviewed and this is also an area that I hope the Security Tripartite Committee would look into. Currently, it is typically characterised by low basic salary with high allowances. Even though gross salaries have improved overtime, the salary structure must be reviewed so that a security officer can earn fair wages by working 8 hours per day instead of having to work for 12 hours per day. Security officers will thus be able to have more recreation time, as well as time with their families.
NTUC has called for every worker to be valued, and every worker to be respected. We have with us today 7 Security Agencies which have implemented good HR practices to value and respect their officers. NTUC applauds them for their efforts in supporting the push to improve the security industry, and we urge other employers to collaborate with the union to implement good HR practices.
Security Handbook
As part of our concerted effort to ensure fair employment for our private security officers, the union is launching a Security Handbook which has been developed as a joint collaborative effort with the government agencies and industry stakeholders. This handbook aims to raise private security employees’ awareness of their employment rights with regard to salary payments, rest days, overtime hours, notice period, and other statutory benefits as stated in the Employment Act. Together, with better knowledge of their employment rights, we can reinforce the implementation of good HR practices and work towards building a strong and professional security industry.
On this note, I would like to wish everyone a meaningful National Day Observance Ceremony.
Thank you.
