SINGAPORE — Beyond improving wages and career prospects for security officers, the adoption of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) as a licensing requirement for security agencies will also help address the problem of firms undercutting each other with cheap labour when competing for contracts, said those in the sector.

Security agencies TODAY spoke to also felt the implementation timeline of two years was sufficient, and were optimistic about the model’s ability to improve the attractiveness of the sector.

Premier Security Co-operative managing director William Seak, 49, believes the PWM — which pegs the basic starting salary of a security officer at S$1,100 — will benefit the sector in the long run. “The PWM will level the playing field ... because it standardises the service standards. It also prevents agencies from undercutting each other by offering ridiculously low prices while compromising service standards.”

Mr Seak added that his agency would be able to meet the new requirements by the September 2016 deadline.

Mr Ben Ng, 41, owner of Acepro Security Consultancy, shared similar sentiments. “It’s a good move because it recognises their (security officers) hard work, and the increased pay also attracts more people to join the security sector,” said Mr Ng, adding his firm was already offering its security officers at least S$1,000 a month.

However, security officers TODAY spoke to were, less enthused, noting the hours would remain long, and older workers were also less inclined to climb the career ladder. “I work 12 hours a day, so it’s very tiring,” said Mr Leow Ah Chua, 52, who works at Goldenhill Park Condominium. “I wouldn’t attend the courses because I’m considering switching jobs.”

Mr Wong Peng Fatt, who works as a security guard at Nanyang Junior College, welcomed the chance to raise his salary. “If (my company) wants to send me for training, I would go. Who doesn’t want a higher salary? But I wouldn’t want to become a supervisor. There are too many responsibilities, and I don’t think I can handle that.”

Mr Musa Yunof, 55, who works for Matriq Security Service, offered suggestions on how the PWM can be made better. “The PWM would encourage the new security officers to upgrade themselves because of higher salary. But I think courses can be in different languages as most of them are in their 50s and can’t speak English,” he said. Elgin Chong