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Progressive Wage Model for the Security Sector to be Incorporated into Licensing Regime

Introduction of a new career progression pathway, progressive wage and training requirements for security officers will raise standards and professionalism across the security industry

Employment practices Skills, training and development

29 October 2014

  1. The Government has accepted the recommendations contained in the report of the Security Tripartite Cluster (STC) on the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for the security industry, which was released today. The Government concurs with the STC’s views that these recommendations will raise standards and professionalism across the security industry. Service buyers and consumers will in turn benefit from better security services and standards.
  2. The new five-level career progression model, with specific training requirements that tap on the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications for Security (Security WSQ) ensures that security officers are equipped with the skills to carry out their job functions. The pegging of progressive wages for each level will also ensure that security officers are paid wages that are commensurate with their skills and productivity. The PWM provides a clearer pathway for security officers to progress to higher wages as they become better skilled, more productive and take on higher job responsibilities. This will enable security agencies to better attract and retain well-trained security officers. [Please refer to Annex A for more details on Security WSQ.]
  3. To ensure that there is uniform adoption of the PWM, compliance with the wage and training requirements will be one of the licensing conditions for security agencies. The Police Licensing and Regulatory Department (PLRD) will be incorporating the PWM in its existing licensing framework for security agencies. Based on the feedback from industry players, the Government has provided a lead time of two years for the industry to comply with the PWM training and wages requirements. From 1 September 2016, security agencies must ensure their security officers receive the required training and are paid wages that are in line or higher than the progressive wage levels specified in the PWM. As the PWM will apply to security officers deployed under both new and existing service contracts starting 1 September 2016, security agencies and service buyers are encouraged to factor in any anticipated cost increases when tendering for new contracts or renewing existing contracts.
  4. An estimated 33,000 active security officers will benefit from improvements in skills training and a clearer career progression pathway as outlined in the STC report. Progressive wages that are in line with the PWM will be mandatory for an estimated 29,000 resident security officers. Security agencies that do not comply with the stipulated requirements may not have their licences renewed. PLRD will work with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to implement the PWM. More details on this new licensing condition will be released to the industry in 2015.

Download the Security Tripartite Cluster report for more information.