Security guards: Low pay, long hours?

December 4, 2015

I refer to the article “Security officers get more career paths” (Straits Times, Dec 4).

Shortage of security guards

It states that “”We have to be more creative, we have to reclaim jobs,” said Mr Tan, adding that the industry, which comprises about 75,000 licensed guards, is still short of around 10,000 to 15,000 people.”

Not addressing the root problems?

These new initiatives as well as those in the past few years do not seem to be very effective, because we may not be addressing the root causes vigorously.

Low pay?

The basic salary is still very low – $857  according to the Ministry of Man power’s wages benchmarking tool.

According to Payscale — the median hourly pay is only $7.50.

Long working hours?

As to “Senior operations manager Jason Chua, 57, of CBM Security said most security officers work 12-hour shifts with only one day off. “Our working hours are very long. We always lack sleep or proper rest, which can really affect our health,” he said, adding that the programme will help him monitor his high blood pressure” – we need to change the typical very long working hours.

Leong Sze Hian

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.