Unfair tender clauses a systemic harm to security industry: Security Association

SINGAPORE - Incidents of security guards being abused make headlines and spark public furore, but discriminatory clauses in service agreements are more harmful to the private security industry.

That is because the clauses point to a systemic problem, said the umbrella body that represents the sector.

Mr Raj Joshua Thomas, president of the Security Association Singapore (SAS): "It is an even bigger problem than abuse - because abuse is incidental but discriminatory and unfair working conditions are systemic."

Examples of discriminatory clauses include those that specify age limits or allow officers to be sacked without good reason or avenues of appeal, said Mr Thomas, who was speaking on Thursday (July 21) at an annual awards ceremony to recognise exemplary security officers.

He said: "Such clauses in service agreements are negotiated and agreed by the service buyer and the security agency, but affect the security officer."

He added that SAS recently received notice of another tender that included a clause stipulating a maximum age for security officers.

He did not name the managing agent that put out the tender.

“What I shall share at this time is that this managing agent is a repeat offender,” he said.

SAS has in the past publicised discriminatory tenders for condominium security officers by managing agents Savills and Knight Frank.

It has not named the managing agent as it is still verifying the latest tender, Mr Thomas, who is also a nominated MP, told The Straits Times.

At the event, 150 awards were presented, with the top plaudits reserved for five officers that showed exceptional performance and dedication to their role.

Ms Geethaa Nalatamby and Mr Bharat Kumar Kanabathy received the Security Officer of The Year award, while Mr Pravin Manimaran, Mr Sures Perumal and Mr Neo Ah Whatt received the SAS President's Medal for Professionalism.

Ms Geethaa, a 29-year-old Malaysian working for Certis, was lauded for comforting a distraught patron she stumbled upon in January while patrolling IMM mall, where she has worked for the last six years.

She said: "She was sitting on a ledge on the fourth floor at a carpark staircase, with her legs facing out. I approached her calmly, and gently grasped her hand... and spoke to her for 10 to 15 minutes."

The patron confided her relationship problems to her, she added.

"I was focused on getting her to come down from the ledge first," she said, before she called her superiors, who informed the police and mall management.

Meanwhile, Mr Neo, 63, whose efforts to deter a white Bentley from entering Red Swastika School against the flow of traffic back in January were cited for his award, had a tip for fellow security officers.

Speaking in Mandarin, he said: "We are just doing our job, and enforcing the rules... so stay calm. if a member of the public gets agitated, just inform your superiors and don't get emotional."

Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Defence Zaqy Mohamad, who spoke at the event, commended SAS for highlighting contractual agreements that are unfair to both security officers and agencies.

Mr Zaqy said the security sector has a constant demand for manpower.

There are initiatives in place to improve wages, well-being and productivity, he said, and that more than 40,000 security officers have benefited from the Progressive Wage Model, which was introduced for the security sector in 2016.

In-house security officers will be covered under the model from September.

"Our security officers keep us safe day in, day out and deserve our support and recognition for their commitment and professionalism," he said.