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Shortage of 10,000 guards as people shun low-paid sector

hokkien

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Shortage of 10,000 guards as people shun low-paid sector
This story was first published in The Straits Times on Sunday, Nov 23, 2014


PUBLISHED ON NOV 26, 2014 8:45 AM 14 3 0 0
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Only Singaporeans, permanent residents and Malaysians can work as security guards in Singapore. And all security guards are individually licensed by the police. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

Only Singaporeans, permanent residents and Malaysians can work as security guards in Singapore. And all security guards are individually licensed by the police.

To apply for a licence, applicants must take a one-week course certified by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).

It covers basic skills such as how to answer the telephone and take notes, as well as how to respond when the fire alarm goes off or check on vehicles and suspicious persons.

Curiously, one of the first things trainees are taught is: Do not speak to reporters.

The courses are conducted by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Security Industry Institute set up by Singapore Polytechnic and the WDA. Security firms like Aetos and Apro also run these courses.

Course fees vary between $550 and $800, but Singaporeans and older workers pay as little as $34 with government subsidies.

Those who pass can apply to the police to be licensed. Anyone with a criminal record may have his application rejected.

Former policemen and SAF regulars are exempted from the training, but also have to be licensed.

Licences cost $16 each and are valid for five years. But they can be withdrawn if a guard runs foul of the law.

There are 70,000 people qualified to work as guards, but only 29,000 locals and 4,000 Malaysians actually do so. There is a shortage of 10,000 guards.

People shun the sector because of the low basic pay and long working hours - 12-hour shifts, six days a week.

Security guards earn a basic pay of $817 a month and $1,678 with overtime, according to Manpower Ministry official data released in June.

An NTUC-led committee of unionists, government officials and security industry associations has launched a "progressive wage model" for guards - a wage ladder that ties basic salaries to training. Under the plan, which kicks in from September 2016, guards will earn a minimum monthly basic pay of $1,100 per month and supervisors, $1,500.

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/si...n-low-paid-sector-201411#sthash.x6S3luG3.dpuf
 

tonychat

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Generous Asset
Then make it high pay lah.. Easy..

If you pay then $4000 per month, I bet there will not be any shortage of guards.
 

Confuseous

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Asset
Why must wait till 2016?:biggrin:

The timing is all to do with elections. The govt wants to be seen to be addressing everyone's needs and create a feel good factor at the correct time.
So, while they have introduced the Pioneer Package (segment marketing) they will not allow any discounts on medication until later - to co-incide with the election.
Really, giving discounts at the same time on the medications is not rocket science where adjusting the computers are concerned.
But no, they need to 'schedule' the dispensation of such goodies to create an ongoing rush of feel good about the MIWs.
 

blackmore

Alfrescian
Loyal
Then make it high pay lah.. Easy..

If you pay then $4000 per month, I bet there will not be any shortage of guards.

Wonder who would sensibly pay someone so high to be a watchdog.

Security guards are always at the lower end of the spectrum where little skill is required to maintain their existence. Most of the security guards are either too old or overly qualified for the position where they will either slack off or merely plying their miserable existence.

As with any job; remuneration commensurate with the skills and job requirement and risk level. Security jobs in Sinkieland is a joke ; a good public assessement can be observe at Changi Airport with their Security Officers at the scanners and one would wonder the level of professionalism and standards of this industries.
 

SgGoneWrong

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Asset
Wonder who would sensibly pay someone so high to be a watchdog.

Security guards are always at the lower end of the spectrum where little skill is required to maintain their existence. Most of the security guards are either too old or overly qualified for the position where they will either slack off or merely plying their miserable existence.

As with any job; remuneration commensurate with the skills and job requirement and risk level. Security jobs in Sinkieland is a joke ; a good public assessement can be observe at Changi Airport with their Security Officers at the scanners and one would wonder the level of professionalism and standards of this industries.

You pay peanuts you get monkeys. Ask yourself if you will accept this job if pay like this.
You want to pay 1k for people to risk their lives etc? Even mata earn much more got emergency also hide in ambulance.
 

johnny333

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Asset
got training lah. the guard com will conduct a 5-10min talk on SOP plus a 5min practical instruction with baton and shield.:biggrin:



During my time the only "training" we received was to challenge "Who goes there" & how to use the rifle sling to tie up someone. We were then given 5 rounds to go patrolling.

In my opinion NS has always been a waste of our(lesser mortals) time. It has only benefited the PAP & their paper generals. Even the PAP recognises how stupid & unecessary it is. Just look at the pittance each NS man receives & compare it to the $$$$$$ the PAP pays themselves for their time :rolleyes:
 

GramStroker

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Loyal
During my time the only "training" we received was to challenge "Who goes there" & how to use the rifle sling to tie up someone. We were then given 5 rounds to go patrolling.

Was only trained to use the key to clock the station and never, never, never cock the rifle no matter what.
 

blackmore

Alfrescian
Loyal
You pay peanuts you get monkeys. Ask yourself if you will accept this job if pay like this.
You want to pay 1k for people to risk their lives etc? Even mata earn much more got emergency also hide in ambulance.

What risk level do those Security Guards expose to in the context of Singapore. Half the time they are useless bums doing nothing siting around. Some I understand went in this line because they have no other means of gainful employment. Some went in literally to kill time because it an easy job which requires very minimum skills set.

They are not at risk of getting shot at nor exposure to biological /chemical hazard. Their lives will also never be a threat even after office hours.


Their only tangible risk are being reported by people for their stupidity and such. Or forms of verbal abuses from individuals.

From a business point of view; would it be economical or sustainable if you pay more for something that has little value. For Law Enforcement and Military; the risk level are real despite the low probability. Does anyone notice the payout is even pittance if anything happens for that matter.

If anyone really believe in the promises of wage review for the security industries. I seriously pity these fools in believing there is hope.
 

SgGoneWrong

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Asset
What risk level do those Security Guards expose to in the context of Singapore. Half the time they are useless bums doing nothing siting around. Some I understand went in this line because they have no other means of gainful employment. Some went in literally to kill time because it an easy job which requires very minimum skills set.

They are not at risk of getting shot at nor exposure to biological /chemical hazard. Their lives will also never be a threat even after office hours.


Their only tangible risk are being reported by people for their stupidity and such. Or forms of verbal abuses from individuals.

From a business point of view; would it be economical or sustainable if you pay more for something that has little value. For Law Enforcement and Military; the risk level are real despite the low probability. Does anyone notice the payout is even pittance if anything happens for that matter.

If anyone really believe in the promises of wage review for the security industries. I seriously pity these fools in believing there is hope.

Your current job very risky and very intelligent for you to deserve salary a few times theirs meh?
Back to the same point, u get what you pay.
 

frenchbriefs

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Wonder who would sensibly pay someone so high to be a watchdog.

Security guards are always at the lower end of the spectrum where little skill is required to maintain their existence. Most of the security guards are either too old or overly qualified for the position where they will either slack off or merely plying their miserable existence.

As with any job; remuneration commensurate with the skills and job requirement and risk level. Security jobs in Sinkieland is a joke ; a good public assessement can be observe at Changi Airport with their Security Officers at the scanners and one would wonder the level of professionalism and standards of this industries.

u expect professionalism and standards from a country that strives to run on the cheapest betterest fastest standard possible?u ever wonder why we have to pay nearly 10 bucks for a kfc meal when its cooked and served by pinoys?why we have to pay $2.80 for a train ride or bus ride when its driven by tiongs and msians?why we have to pay $6.50 for a plate of nasi padang at a shopping mall or $1.50 for a tiny ice filled cup of bundung when the stores are all manned by cheapest bestest fastest and the food is mediocre crap from china?have u seen the quality of kfc in singapore vs malaysia and australia?and they expect us to pay thru the teeth.

singapore is a exploitative economy,quality and professionalism is the least of their concerns.they just want the highest profit margins while giving u the shittiest service and products.
 
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frenchbriefs

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
What risk level do those Security Guards expose to in the context of Singapore. Half the time they are useless bums doing nothing siting around. Some I understand went in this line because they have no other means of gainful employment. Some went in literally to kill time because it an easy job which requires very minimum skills set.

They are not at risk of getting shot at nor exposure to biological /chemical hazard. Their lives will also never be a threat even after office hours.


Their only tangible risk are being reported by people for their stupidity and such. Or forms of verbal abuses from individuals.

From a business point of view; would it be economical or sustainable if you pay more for something that has little value. For Law Enforcement and Military; the risk level are real despite the low probability. Does anyone notice the payout is even pittance if anything happens for that matter.

If anyone really believe in the promises of wage review for the security industries. I seriously pity these fools in believing there is hope.

actually u are looking at it from the wrong way,its not about the risk they have to take but rather the value ur business stand to gain from security.if u feel that even a measly 1.1k is too much to pay to a human being for his time wasted at ur stupid job(unless u feel ur time is really that cheap).....then u can always choose not to hire any security.and watch how much ur company or real estate loses from theft or shoplifting.notice how
casinos have so many security personnels?most of the time they are just standing around doing jackshit why does the casino have to employ so many of them?
 

mojito

Alfrescian
Loyal
Yes, lets import 20000 cheap and good guards from the pla. Can't have the world stopping because of some lazy singaporeans.
 

sleaguepunter

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
During my time the only "training" we received was to challenge "Who goes there" & how to use the rifle sling to tie up someone. We were then given 5 rounds to go patrolling.

In my opinion NS has always been a waste of our(lesser mortals) time. It has only benefited the PAP & their paper generals. Even the PAP recognises how stupid & unecessary it is. Just look at the pittance each NS man receives & compare it to the $$$$$$ the PAP pays themselves for their time :rolleyes:

no baton charge training? kenna at tekong camp 3 and gedong. during guards turnout by DO, 08xguards form 2 lines of 4 with baton and shield while 04xguards on the third line with m16.
 

blackmore

Alfrescian
Loyal
notice how casinos have so many security personnels?most of the time they are just standing around doing jackshit why does the casino have to employ so many of them?

Since you cited casino as an example; have you wonder the various tiers of security working at these places and the professionalism. They stand around physically but the support level behind the whole infrastructure is more massive than what you see. At the mid to high level ; I believe they are handsomely paid compare to the low level. The level of training and experience each had (from their former background) are different from the security guards you see in malls, estates and such. The risk assessment level is real

For general business, they do add value to their venture as a deterrence ; but businesses subcontract these services by engaging the various big boys where choices are limited. The quality of these cohorts tends to dilute with their sheer numbers over the years if anyone notice. Seriously; how many of them really know what they are doing or even the CPC to understand their own limits of power. I was ever told by an associate that engaging security services was a business requirement to him despite his low confidence of the providers. He had no option but to choice one.

There is a distinct difference in roles between a jaga, a security officer, a armed escort or protection personnel. A security officer in local context is like a cover all definition for this nature of work. In actual definition, it always refer to the lower strata of the food chain which WDA churns out.
 
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