SINGAPORE - The security industry is trying to attract more fresh graduates from theInstitutes of Technical Education and polytechnics. Higher skilled jobs will be made available through the implementation of command and system specialisations with higher pay grades.

These will favour graduates with diplomas in information technology and systems training, said a spokesman for the Union of Security Employees (USE).

Graduates who work in more specialised fields such as executive protection services and cybersecurity can command salaries starting from $2,500, as compared to security officers whose basic pay starts at $1,100.

Apart from recruiting talent, careers and wages were also in focus when the USE held its 13th Quadrennial General Convention of Delegates on Wednesday (July 13) at Downtown East.

Among the issues reviewed was the implementation of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for security officers from Sept 1 this year. The PWM creates a framework for basic pay and career progression of security officers.

Introduced in September 2015 for low-income wage earners such as cleaners, the PWM will be mandatory for new security agencies from Sept 1. Current security agencies will also be audited yearly to ensure they have implemented the PWM.

Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Mr Amrin Amin delivered the keynote address at the convention. He said that implementations of the PWM have been "uneven on the ground", and urged security agencies to prioritise sending their officers for training before the Sept 1 start date.

According to the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department, there was an estimated training shortfall of about 4,022 security officers in June 2016.