Two private security agencies in Singapore have been charged for making their security officers work up to 20 hours a day.
According to CNA, the two private security agencies, Erawan Security Services and Volantra Security, were among several private security agencies that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) took action against.
These two security agencies have been charged under the Employment Act for making their security officers worked back-to-back shifts – between 17 and 20 hours in a day – on multiple occasions between February and March 2021.
MOM said that under the law, security officers must not be deployed to work more than 12 hours in a day, unless the exceptions stated in the Employment Act (EA) are applicable.
MOM to take action against orh-sim employers
MOM inspected almost 200 private security agencies from April to August to find out if they had been complying with the Employment Act, particularly on working hours and overtime limits.
Reportedly, almost 36% of agencies were found to have committed breaches.
While most of these breaches were minor, MOM said it was taking action against 15 private security agencies for deploying their security officers beyond the permissible working hour limits.
Don’t be afraid to bao toh orh-sim employers who exploit security officers!
Orh-sim employers, if kena found out that they have been flouting Employment Act provisions providing for rest days, limits on hours of work and other conditions of service, may be prosecuted and fined up to $5,000 for each offence.
Repeat offenders can be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed up to 12 months, or both.
In a Facebook post, the Union of Security Employees (USE) also reiterated that such horrigible terrible practices should not be tolerated.
https://www.facebook.com/joinUSE/posts/4957472794280720
USE also encourage anyone with information of such illegal practices to inform them, and they will continue to work with MOM to take action against such orh-sim agencies.
So hor, anyone with information on Employment Act infringements should bao toh the matter at www.mom.gov.sg/report-ea-violation, and all information will be kept strictly confidential. MOM say liao.
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