Most of us think that security officers don’t do much on their jobs – that they just sit at the guardhouse and press a button letting people into different properties. Occasionally patrol the area, lunch… and call it a day.
But actually right, security officers do alot more. They have to know security protocols (like identifying bomb threats, tend to violent cases sometimes) and in these moments, it can be a life threatening situation leh! Don’t underestimate our security abangs/kakaks and auntie/uncle.
Recently hor, NTUC released some findings on how our security officers have been doing lah. They did a survey with 1,002 security officers led by Union of Security Employees (USE) and the University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
You don’t need to read the full report. These are just 3 things you need to know about how the current security industry looks like, if you’re thinking of joining lah.
1. Now as a security guard, you need to be TECH-savvy
Did you know that 93 per cent of security officers use technology solutions at work, with 59% of them saying that it makes their life easier? These technology hor involve wearable technology, visitor management systems, and some of them sibeh tech-lacious hor, they use video analytics also! Xiao sophisticated!
Then hor, you know our security officers so poor thing, they always need to clock in long OT hours. The Union of Security Employees (USE) has been trying to help them manage this so they got work-life balance lah. So got some kind of technologies for them to achieve work-life balance, for example adopting outcome-based procurement methods as opposed to traditional headcount-based model.
This means that got room for job transformation when the site requires upgrades to its security systems. Upgrade security systems, means need to upgrade the person who operates it right? So now your security officers don’t just sit there look garang hor. They may even be more knowledgeable than you and me!
Because of this, their job security is even better than you and me – 80% of officers don’t think they will lose their jobs leh!
2. You need to be ready for difficult people… And these people can be abusive!
You would think that a country like Singapore won’t have those siao ting tong people who want to beat other people up.
But hor, this year I have seen so many security officers get beaten up or abused for doing their jobs leh! Some of them even get punched in the face, or remember the Bentley incident? I so scared leh.
The findings by USE-SUSS revealed that the abuse of officers continued to be high at 41% . 35.9% stated that they experienced verbal abuse at work, while 4.9% state they experience both verbal and physical abuse! OMG. I very shock.
Lucky got the union there la. The USE also say that all of society should give the officer due respect because they are just helping to keep sites safe and secure.
If you see or know of any abuse issues, you help to report la, use the USE mobile application (download Apple and Android) and USE also got the mediation service centre. Help each other la hor.
3. But at the end of the day, money talks right. The money is ok-ok lah.
Most of our security officers they OT alot, so the OT alone makes up about one-third of their overall gross wages. For example, entry-level security officers earn about $2,100 gross pay, exceeding their basic wages leh.
There was a decrease in officers being satisfied with their changes of salary increase and promotion, so the USE going to look into this to help them address these concerns.
But good news is, there is the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), so you can rest assured that this is an issue that will be addressed because proven liao mah.
You can read more about the PWM here.
Basically, if you want to progress further in the security industry, you need to continue upgrading your skills because the industry always changing. Good news is, there’s progression! So if you’re thinking about joining, faster go apply.
Also, the workers in this industry always got protection one. The Security Tripartite Alliance for Responsible Outcome-Based Contracting (STAR), consisting of the union, security associations and supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs, supports both service buyers and agencies.
With this STAR hor, since got the union, you can tap on dedicated resources and funding support such as the NTUC Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant, so that companies can help to transform security contracts for employees into fair, safe and outcome-based ones. This one make everyones lives easier lah.
Like what Mr Raymond Chin, General- Secretary of the USE said,
“Much has been done in the past few years to uplift wages of security officers via the Progressive Wage Model. The importance of security officers in keeping the nation safe and secure was also brought to the fore during COVID-19. It is more important now than ever, to focus our efforts on much-needed transformation of officers’ jobs and the security industry at large. Together with STAR, USE stands ready to push this key initiative further because every security officer matters.”
