SINGAPORE — Two security companies were charged on Tuesday (Aug 24) with violating employment laws by permitting or instructing several of their employees to work for more than 12 hours on multiple days last year.

The firms are Sovereign Security Services, which faces six charges, and Peregrine Security, which faces seven charges.

Under the Employment Act, shift workers should not work for more than 12 hours a day.

The exceptions are:

• In cases of accidents

• When work is essential to the life of the community or essential for defence or security

• When it is urgent work to be done to machinery or a plant or an interruption of work that was impossible to foresee

However, many security officers are required to work up to 12 hours a day for six days a week to meet market demands.

Court documents did not state where the two firms’ security officers were deployed or how the purported offences came to light.

Peregrine Security allegedly told the following employees to work beyond the legal limits:

• Anjalai A/P A Thanga Velu on 22 days between Sept 1 and Oct 4, and 22 days between Oct 5 and 27

• Sarah Selvem on two days between Sept 9 and 20

• Vijaya G Simmathri on 12 days between Sept 3 and Oct 11, as well as 15 days between Oct 12 and 29

• Mathurai Veteran A/L Shamugam on 15 days from Sept 2 to 19, and 18 days between Sept 22 and Oct 25

Three employees from Sovereign Security Services were allegedly permitted to work more:

• Hamaraj A/L Sandrin on seven days between Oct 25 and 31, and 29 days between Nov 1 and 30

• Tay Seng Hin on five days between Oct 25 and 31, and 23 days between Nov 1 and 30

• Balamurali A/L M Suppiah on seven days between Oct 25 and 31, and 23 days between Nov 1 and 30

A representative from Peregrine Security indicated that the company intends to plead guilty, with court records showing that it will face more charges later this week.

Its website stated that it employs more than 400 security officers in Singapore and was graded "A" (Excellent) by the Singapore police in 2018.

Sovereign Security Services’ court case was adjourned to Sept 9.

If convicted, the firms could be fined up to S$5,000 for each charge.