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Progressive Wage Model (PWM Security) 2021 - Security Industry

18 April 2021

What is the Progressive Wage Model?

PWM Security Industry

Created in 2013 to examine the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for corporate security, the Security Tripartite Cluster (STC) is developed by representatives of professional associations, unions and governments.

The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for the security industry was developed by the STC to encourage both employers and security officers to upgrade their skills and increase productivity through the productivity-based wage progression pathway. Since September 2016, all security agencies are required to pay their security officers according to the PWM wage ladder according to the PWM requirements for them to renew or obtain their licences.

Updates to PWM as of Nov 2021

Following the government’s approval of the STC’s recommendation in November 2021, starting in 2023, the base salary of security personnel in Singapore will be progressively improved for a period of six years.

How much will Security Officers receive for their salary?

From 2024, the monthly salaries of security guards will increase above the limit of S$2,600 set in Part IV of the Employment Act, which offers protection against overtime, holidays, rest day and overtime pay regardless of their grade. The STC said it had approved “significant increases” in security personnel’s monthly salaries in 2023 and fixed dollar quantum annual increases in 2024 till 2028, though a previously reported 3% salary increase will still be valid for next year.

This means that from 2022 to 2028, the total salary of the lowest paid officers will increase by more than 50%. The total monthly salary for 2022 is calculated on the basis of the starting salary and 72 hours of overtime. The average salary of a security guard will more than double, from S$1,650 in 2023 to S$3,530 in 2028.

During this time, the top security guard rank (Senior Security Supervisors) will receive an average salary of S$2,240 to S$4,430 at the same time. Overall, the total salary for each job will increase at an annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2022 to 2028, more than double the annual growth of at least 3% announced in November 2017.

Advantages of the PWM update

The supply of security personnel has grown steadily over the years, but there is still a shortage of personnel needed to meet the growing demand for security services due to new housing developments and the management of Covid-19 security.

Despite efforts to improve the wages and salaries of security personnels, the labor shortage has created perpetual hardship for the security industry. In the security industry, it is important to improve the use of security personnel. It helps to accelerate the pace of business transformation, increases the use of technology and injects new talents into the workforce so that the security industry does not face major operational challenges for the future.

In line with the industry’s goal of moving to a 44-hour workweek, the STC clarified that the base salary for these security personnels include the salaries paid for work done, together with the normal work week. For a full-time job every week, the starting salary for a security officer has been increased to S$2,650.

This allows security guards to ensure that stable wages increase without having to spend too much time trying to clock in more work hours. With this new implementation, security officers can also discuss better performance, such as regular working hours, with their respective employers.

In the strongest terms the government has ever recognized, safety regulations should go beyond pure worker contracts to optimal security results. This may indicate that the security industry will not only rely on people, but will focus more towards skills and people who can apply those skills.

Driving change in industry also depends on its ability to provide reliability and efficiency at work. It will also attract more people with the skills to participate in the security sector.

Therefore, these recommendations encourage security agencies to use technology and seek innovation to improve productivity and benefits. Security organizations can use resources like the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) and access security industry partnerships and organizations if they need help piloting applications. The buyer must be prepared to accept that the price of the guarantee contract will inevitably be higher. Security organizations are encouraged to be transparent about how PWM salaries are to be defined as higher salaries and contract costs.

Overtime Exemption (OTE) Removal from 1 January 2021

The security industry was previously exempted from the overtime limit of 72 hours per month due to the nature of the job. The tripartite partners have since agreed to remove the OTE for the security industry as of 1 January 2021. This will give all security officers two additional days of rest a month while earning a better salary with the Progressive Wage Model (PWM).

How does it affect me as a Security Officer (SO) in 2021 and beyond?

The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) helps to increase the wages of security personnel through encouraging workers to upgrade their skills and increasing their overall productivity. With the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), security personnel can expect an average increase in wages by 3%. The PWM covers Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents (PRs).

  • More rest days per month without affecting wages.
  • More opportunities to upgrade your skills.
  • Reduced minimum year-in-grade requirements = Quicker promotions
  • Higher PWM rank = Better wages

In short, you will gain more skills through upgrading, able to climb the PWM rank faster, increase your productivity, work lesser hours per month, steady growth in wages annually!

(Update) Revised PWM Security Industry From 2021 To 2028

Job level20212022202320242025202620272028
Security officer≥ $1,400≥ $1,442≥ $1,650≥ $2,650≥ $2,870≥ $3,090≥ $3,310≥ $3,530
Senior security officer≥ $1,585≥ $1,633≥ $1,850≥ $2,950≥ $3,170≥ $3,390≥ $3,610≥ $3,830
Security supervisor≥ $1,785≥ $1,839≥ $2,040≥ $3,250≥ $3,470≥ $3,690≥ $3,910≥ $4,130
Senior security supervisor≥ $1,985≥ $2,045≥ $2,240≥ $3,550≥ $3,770≥ $3,990≥ $4,210≥ $4,430

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Note: Basic wages in 2023 do not include overtime pay, which is paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate of pay for work in excess of the normal hours of work, in accordance with Part IV of the Employment Act. Basic wages from 2024 to 2028 will include wages paid for work done in addition to the 44-hour regular workweek, as they exceed the current $2,600 monthly basic wage threshold for workers to be covered under Part IV of the Employment Act. The number of extra hours worked above the standard 44-hours per week will continue to be capped at 72 hours per month.

Level 1: Progressive Wage Model for Security Officer (SO)

Security Officer SO PWM wage

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How to become a Security Officer (SO)?

Courses to take to become a Security Officer (SO):

Read our SIMPLE 3-Step Guide on how to become a Security Officer (SO).

Level 2: Progressive Wage Model for Senior Security Officer (SSO)

Senior Security Officer SSO PWM wage

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How to become a Senior Security Officer (SSO)?

Courses to take to become a Senior Security Officer (SSO):

AND

Holds the PWM rank of Security Officer (SO) for at least 6 months.

Level 3: Progressive Wage Model for Security Supervisor (SS)

Security Supervisor SS PWM wage

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How to become a Security Supervisor (SS)?

Courses to take to become a Security Supervisor (SS):

AND

Holds the PWM rank of Senior Security Officer (SSO) for at least 1 year.

Level 4: Progressive Wage Model for Senior Security Supervisor (SSS)

Senior Security Supervisor SSS PWM wage

Click here for the Source.

How to become a Senior Security Supervisor (SSS)

Courses to take to become a Senior Security Supervisor (SSS):

AND

Holds the PWM rank of Security Supervisor (SS) for at least 1 year 6 months.

Read more…

How to get a PLRD Security Officer License in 3 Simple Steps

Type of Jobs in the Security Industry

How to be a Security Officer (SO)

How to be a Senior Security Officer (SSO)

How to be a Security Supervisor (SS)

How to be a Senior Security Supervisor (SSS)