Government Accepts Recommendations of the Security Tripartite Cluster

1.   The Government accepts the Security Tripartite Cluster (STC) recommendations released today. ^[1] The recommendations seek to provide a six-year schedule of sustained baseline Progressive Wage Model (PWM) wage increases for the security industry, and intensify efforts to raise industry standards and improve the working conditions for security officers.

2.   These recommendations will better support tripartite efforts to transform the security industry under the Security Industry Transformation Map (ITM). ^[2]

Six-Year Schedule of PWM Wage Increases from 2023 to 2028

3.   The STC has taken in the guidance by the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers to ensure that the overall wage growth of security officers remains strong for our lower-wage workers to gain ground on median wages.

4.   With the recommended PWM wage schedule, the monthly gross wage of an entry-level security officer is expected to increase from about $2,259 ^[3] in 2022 to $3,530 in 2028. More than 40,000 resident security officers will benefit.

5.   The number of extra hours worked above the standard 44-hours per week will continue to be capped at 72 hours per month. The cap of 72 hours per month will be enforced by the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department as part of the PWM for the security industry (see the STC report for more details). This will safeguard security officers’ welfare and ensure that they do not work excessive hours. It will also ensure that all security officers remain fit to discharge their duties.

Intensify Efforts to Raise Industry Standards and Improve Working Conditions for Security Officers

6.   The Government also accepts the recommendations by the STC to intensify efforts to raise industry standards and further improve working conditions for security officers. These recommendations complement both upcoming and ongoing initiatives to support the industry, including:

a. Providing enhanced protection for security officers : The Ministry of Home Affairs amended the Private Security Industry Act in October 2021 to better protect security officers, by introducing new offences to address common types of harassment and abuse faced by security officers in the course of their official duties.
b. Implementing the Security Agencies Competency Evaluation (SACE) : SACE will be a licensing criterion for security agencies from 2022. ^[4] A key assessment area under SACE will be the technology used by security agencies to augment critical areas such as training, operations, and command, control and communications. The competencies assessed under SACE will be reviewed periodically to align with technological and industry developments, and will help spur security agencies to invest in training and technology to deliver high quality security services.
c. Reviewing paid-up capital requirement to ensure that only financially sound security agencies enter the industry : With the last review conducted in 2013, the Police Licensing & Regulatory Department will be consulting the industry in 2022 on its upcoming review of the paid-up capital required for new security agency licensees. More details on this review will be shared in Q4 2022.

7.   Overall, the STC’s recommendations are timely and will augment tripartite efforts to uplift lower-wage workers and transform the security industry. Government agencies will work closely with tripartite partners to implement the recommendations and create more meaningful careers for security officers, increase productivity, and improve security outcomes in a sustainable manner.

8.   The STC Report is available online www.ntuc.org.sg/tripartiteguidelines .

Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Manpower

[1] The STC comprises representatives from the Union of Security Employees, security service providers and buyers, and the Government.

[2] The Security ITM was launched in February 2018 by the Ministry of Home Affairs with the support of tripartite partners. For more information, see Transforming the Security Industry.

[3] Estimated monthly gross wage for 2022 is calculated based on Basic Wage + Overtime Pay only (assuming 72 overtime hours a month at 1.5x basic rate)

[4] Compliance to manpower and PWM regulations will also be assessed. For more details, see https://www.police.gov.sg/Business-E-Services/Apply-for-Security-Agency-Licence/Information-on-Security-Agencies-Competency-Evaluation