By Naseema Banu Maideen
Among the line up of sectors to next get on board the Labour Movement’s Progressive Wage Model is also the private security industry.
This industry is one which has improved remarkably in a span of five years. NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say hopes that the direction towards the Progressive Wage Model will benefit many more of the 35,000 workers in the sector in years to come.
Speaking at the Union of Security Employees’ (USE) Fundraising Dinner at Hilton Hotel on 16 November 2012, he urged tripartite partners to work even closer to see how the wages, skills, productivity and career progression of security officers can continue to grow - which he explained, when put together, brings the industry towards the Progressive Wage Model.
SG Lim also shared on the latest economic updates and painted the view that the upcoming year may not be very rosy.
With a tightening labour market, SG Lim pointed out that Singapore could take on various routes to tackle this challenge.
He said: “One possibility is for the Government is to do a U-turn on our manpower policies, that is, to allow more foreign workers to come to Singapore. Allow more foreigners to become new Singaporeans, new Permanent Residents (PRs) and then, there will be more people in the Singapore workforce… but I want to assure you that we are not going to do that.”
He also explained on the other alternative, which is to make every 100 workers in Singapore to do the job of 103 workers. If 100 workers can do the job of 103 workers, he cited that our productivity will go up by 3 per cent.
“But the question is, are we going to make our Singaporeans work even harder? The NTUC will never allow that,” he further affirmed.
What the NTUC will support is to find ways to make the job easier and help workers to perform their job roles faster. Through exploring on these ways, it will become possible for every 100 Singaporean workers to deliver the job of 103 persons.
Adding to this, SG Lim said “We can only achieve this if the, management, union and Government work together,” and highlighted the Progressive Wage Model for the security sector is the way to go.
He also applauded the strong tripartite community in the private security sector that has worked together to create many breakthroughs in the industry.
As USE channels its efforts in impacting the lives of its members through these efforts, it also keeps the education of their children at the top of its mind.
The union renamed its bursary and scholarship awards as M Sanji Bursary and Scholarship Awards this year, in recognition of his service and tribute to the passionate efforts of its late leader, Mr Murugesan Sanjivanathan.
The fundraising dinner that rolled out in support of members’ children’s education brought in about $90,000.
Said USE President N Silva: “Our late brother, M Sanji who served the union for 13 years had a very strong belief that every child should have the opportunity to be educated. His call was even more passionate when it came to the children of our low-wage members. Every dollar raised will go towards supporting the education of our members’ children and their future.”
